Air (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the Japanese band of the same name, see Air (Japanese band).
| Air | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Background information | ||
| Origin | France | |
| Genre(s) | Trip-hop Downtempo Indietronica Pop |
|
| Years active | 1995–present | |
| Label(s) | Astralwerks | |
| Website | Official website | |
| Members | ||
| Nicolas Godin Jean-Benoît Dunckel |
||
Air is a French music duo, consisting of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel.
Air's debut EP, Premiers Symptômes, was followed by the critically acclaimed album Moon Safari, the re-release of Premiers Symptômes, The Virgin Suicides (soundtrack), 10,000Hz Legend, Everybody Hertz, and Talkie Walkie.
Their most recent album, Pocket Symphony, was released on March 5, 2007. The album features former Pulp vocalist Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy, and is produced by Nigel Godrich. Air will embark on a European tour from mid-March, which will be followed by shows in the U.S. from mid-April to mid-May. They will play at major festivals both in Europe and Japan during the summer and then continue touring for the rest of 2007.
Contents |
[edit] Career
[edit] Genesis of band
Nicolas Godin studied architecture at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Versailles whereas Jean-Benoît Dunckel studied mathematics before forming a band in 1995. Before founding Air, Dunckel and Godin played together in the band Orange, with others such as Alex Gopher, Xavier Jamaux and Etienne de Crécy. (Those musicians have subsequently contributed to remixes of tracks recorded by Air.)
[edit] Musical style
Air's music is often referred to as electronica; their form of electronic music was influenced by the synthesizer sounds of the 1970s such as Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis, and Francis Lai. Other influences are psychedelic rock pioneers Pink Floyd; Krautrockers Tangerine Dream; Jean-Jacques Perrey (although there are some echoes of dance music styles in the production); and French crooner Serge Gainsbourg.
Air uses many of their studio instruments (like Moog synthesizers, the Korg MS-20, Wurlitzer and Vocoder) live on stage, where their ability to improvise is more clearly highlighted. The band performs the well-known tracks from the albums live as extended or altered versions. Air often works together, both in the studio and live on stage, with artists like Beth Hirsch (Moon Safari), Françoise Hardy ("Jeanne"), Jean-Jacques Perrey ("Cosmic Bird"), Gordon Tracks ("Playground Love" and "Easy Going Woman" - Gordon Tracks is a pseudonym of the french singer Thomas Mars from Phoenix), Beck (10,000Hz Legend), on the 2004 tour with Dave Palmer and drummer Earl Harvin and on the 2007 tour with Earl Harvin, Vincent Taurelle and Steve Jones.
[edit] Licensing of tracks
Air's atmospheric music has become popular among television producers and ad agencies, who have licensed their work for commercials and television. Among the shows or commercials featuring tracks by Air:
- "Surfing on a Rocket" is the background music for the Nissan Armada commercial (2004).
- "Surfing on a Rocket" was also featured in EA Sports's video game FIFA Soccer 2005.
- "Playground Love" was used in a Levi's jeans commercial (2002).
- "La Femme d'Argent" is played in the background on Dublin's FM104 Adrian Kennedy phone show, and was also played in the pilot episode of Veronica Mars, and on one of the episodes of Season 1 of The O.C.
- The song "Run" was also used in Veronica Mars, in the final scene of episode 7 of season 2 entitled "Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner".
- "Alpha Beta Gaga" was used in the "Orange" network advert (the try commercial) 2004, as well as an ad for Heineken beer.
- L’Oréal used "La Femme D'Argent" for one of its L'Oreal Paris ads.
- "Sexy Boy" was used as a backing track in the TV series Queer as Folk and the movie 10 Things I Hate About You.
[edit] Other works
On September 18, 2006, Darkel, a solo album by Jean-Benoît Dunckel, was released.
Air have also recorded a DJ mix album, Late Night Tales: Air, for Azuli Records' Late Night Tales series. The release was initially scheduled for October 2005, but was delayed several times. It finally was released, complete with a new sleeve design, on 11 September 2006.
Air have often collaborated with American film director Sofia Coppola. They composed the music to her debut film The Virgin Suicides and have made prominent contributions to her later films Lost in Translation and Marie Antoinette. They also made cameo appearances in the latter film.
Air also contributed heavily to the album 5:55 by French actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg, which was released in August 2006. This is of interest as Air listed Charlotte Gainsbourg's father, Serge Gainsbourg, as a major influence.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
[edit] Other Albums
 |
 |
|
[edit] Albums
- 1997 - Premiers Symptômes
- 1998 - Moon Safari
- 1999 - Premiers Symptômes (Re-Release with two extra tracks)
- 2000 - The Virgin Suicides
- 2001 - 10,000Hz Legend
- 2002 - Everybody Hertz. (Remix-Album)
- 2003 - City Reading (Tre Storie Western) with Alessandro Baricco
- 2004 - Talkie Walkie
- 2006 - LateNightTales
- 2007 - Pocket Symphony
[edit] Singles/EPs
- 1995 "Modular Mix" (Modulor Mix, No Protection Remix DJ Cam, Stein House Remix Etienne De Crécy) - 12"/CD Source (the title alludes to Le Corbusier's modulor system)
- 1996 "Casanova 70" (Casanova 70, Les Professionnels, Casanova 70 The Secret Of Cool Brendan Lynch Remix, Casanova 70 Moodswings Remix Brendan Lynch) - 12"/CD Source
- 1996 "Modular" (Modular Mix, Modular Source Direct Remix, Modular Mo Protection Remix DJ Cam) - 12"/CD Mo'Wax
- 1997 "Le Soleil Est Près De Moi" (Le Soleil Est Près De Moi, J'Ai Dormi Sous l'Eau, Le Soleil Est Près De Moi Automator Remix, J'Ai Dormi Sous l'Eau Chateau Flight Remix) - 12"/CD Source
- 1998 "Californie" (Californie, Sexy Boy) - 7" Source
- 1998 "Californie" (Californie, La Femme D'Argent) - 7" Source
- 1998 "Sexy Boy" (Radio Edit, Cassius Radio Mix, Etienne de Crécy Flower Pistols Remix, Jeanne) - 7"/12"/Cassette/CD Source - UK #13
- 1998 "Kelly Watch The Stars" (Edit, Sexy Boy Sex Kino Mix by Beck, Album Version, Remember David Whitaker Version) - 7"/12"/CD Source - UK #18
- 1998 "All I Need" (Avec Beth Hirsch Edit, Kelly Watch The Stars Moog Cookbook Remix, Kelly Watch The Stars American Girls Remix by Phoenix) - 12"/CD Source - UK #29
- 2000 "Playground Love" (Playground Love, Bathroom Girl Demo Version, Playground Love Vibraphone Version, Playground Love Nosferatu Remix by Flower Pistols, Highschool Prom Rob Remix) - 7"/12"/CD Record Makers #25
- 2001 "Radio #1" (France) (Radio #1, Señor Coconut "Rumbamambochacha" Remix, JP Cristal Remix)
- 2001 "Radio #1" (Radio #1, Radio #1 JP Cristal Remix, Flowerhead) - 7"/12"/CD Source - UK #31
- 2001 "Radio #1 (US Promo) (Radio Edit, Señor Coconut "Rumbamambochacha" Remix, Call Out Hook #1, Call Out Hook #2)
- 2002 "Don't Be Light" (Don't Be Light Edit Mixed by Tony Hoffer, Mr. Oizo Remix, The Hacker Remix) - 12" Source
- 2002 "How Does It Make You Feel" (How Does It Make You Feel Adrian Sherwood Version, How Does It Make You Feel Edit)
- 2002 "People In The City" (People In The City Mixed by Tony Hoffer, The Way You Look Tonight, People In The City Modjo Version, People In The City Jack Lahana Remix)
- 2004 "Alpha Beta Gaga" (Edit 91 BPM, Mark Ronson Remix Edit, Mark Ronson Dub, Jackson Remix, Cherry Blossom Girl Radio Mix)
- 2004 "Cherry Blossom Girl" (France) (Nigel Godrich Radio Mix, Simian Mobile Disco Mix, Danny Krivit Dub Remix, Fanny CGB Demo)
- 2004 "Cherry Blossom Girl" (US) (Nigel Godrich Radio Mix, Hope Sandoval Cover Version, Simian Mobile Disco Mix, Fanny CGB Demo)
- 2004 "Surfing On A Rocket" (Radio Edit, Zongamin Remix, Juan MacLean Remix, Tel Aviv Rocket Surfing Remake by Nomo Heroes, To The Smiling Sun Remix by Joakim)
- 2007 "Once Upon A Time" (Radio Edit, High Point)
[edit] From Talkie Walkie
|
|
 |
[edit] From Pocket Symphony
 |
[edit] Compilations
- 1995 "Modulor Mix" on SourceLab - 12"/CD Source
- 1996 "Casanova 70" on SourceLab 2 - 12"/CD Source
- 1997 "Soldissimo (EDC Remix)" on Superdiscount - 12"/CD Solid
- 1997 "Cosmic Bird" (with Jean-Jacques Perrey) on SourceLab 3Y - 12"/CD Source
- 2000 "Planet Vega" on At Home With The Groovebox - 12"/CD Grand Royal
- 2002 "Dirty Trip (Live)" on Rarewerks II - CD Astralwerks
- 2006 "Il Secondo Giorno (Instrumental)" on Marie Antoinette OST - CD Verve Forecast
[edit] Remixes, non-album and live tracks
- 1996 Ollano "Latitudes (Air Remix)" on Latitudes - 12" Artefact
- 1997 Crustation "Purple (La Femme D'Argent Mix)" on Purple - 12"/CD Jive Records
- 1997 Neneh Cherry "Kootchi (Air Remix)" on Neneh Chérie Remixes - 100% French Mixes - CD Hut Records
- 1997 Depeche Mode "Home (Air "Around The Golf" Remix)" on Home - 12"/CD Mute Records
- 1997 Alex Gopher "Brakes On Mix" on Gordini Mix Remixes - 12"/CD Solid
- 1998 Étienne Daho "Me Manquer (Londres En Été - Air Remix)" on A New World - 12"/CD Virgin
- 1998 Air with Françoise Hardy "Jeanne" (Sexy Boy B-Side)
- 1998 "Mabrouk" (Moon Safari Tour, version of the title track of the French TV show "30 Millions D’Amis")
- 1998 "Be A Bee" (Moon Safari Tour)
- 1998 "Le Slow" (Moon Safari Tour, cover of "Melissa" by Francis Lai, Bilitis soundtrack)
- 1998 "Maggot Brain" (Moon Safari Tour, cover "Maggot Brain" by Funkadelic)
- 1998 "Tomorrow Never Knows" (Moon Safari Tour, cover of "Tomorrow Never Knows" by The Beatles)
- 1998 "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" (Moon Safari Tour, cover of the soundtrack by John Williams (composer))
- 1998 "Blue Monday" (Moon Safari Tour, cover of "Blue Monday" by New Order)
- 1999 Beth Hirsch "Minor's Son" (with J.B. Dunckel on Rhodes piano)
- 1999 Alex Gopher "Ralph And Kathy" (with J.B. Dunckel on keyboards and MS20)
- 2002 David Bowie "A Better Future (Air Remix)" on Heathen (Ltd. Edition) - CD Virgin Records
- 2002 "You Make It Easy (Demo Version)" (Deck Safari Part 2)
- 2002 "Summer Love (Demo Version)" (Deck Safari Part 2)
- 2002 "Flowerhead" (Everybody Hertz Japan Bonus Track)
- 2002 "818 323 01" (J.B. Dunckel and Nicolas Godin as Rainbow Brothers)
- 2004 "Easy Going Woman" (Talkie Walkie Japan Bonus Track)
- 2005 "Heaven Hammer" (Air's remix of Beck's "Missing", from the Beck remix album Guerolito)
- 2007 "Crickets" (Pocket Symphony Bonus Track, the song from The Architecture of Reassurance)
- 2007 "The Duelist" (Pocket Symphony Bonus Track, feat. Charlotte Gainsbourg & Jarvis Cocker)
- 2007 "Time Capsule" (Pocket Symphony Japan Bonus Track)
- 2007 "High Point" (Once Upon A Time Single B-Side)
[edit] Additional single and album remixes
- 1998 "Sexy Boy" (Bertrand Version, Bertrand Burgalat)
- 1998 "Sexy Boy" (Deep Dish Remixes, Promo Only 12")
- 1999 "Sexy Boy" (QAF Remix)
- 1999 "All I Need" (BB Breakbeat Mix)
- 2002 "Le Soleil Est Près de Moi" (Money Mark Remix, Premiers Symptômes Japan Bonus Track)
- 2002 "Le Soleil Est Près de Moi" (Buffalo Daughter Remix, Premiers Symptômes Japan Bonus Track)
[edit] Videos and movies
- 1998 Kelly Watch the Stars (video, Mike Mills)
- 1998 All I Need (video, Mike Mills)
- 1999 Le soleil est près de moi (video, Mike Mills)
- 1999 Eating Sleeping Waiting & Playing (Moon Safari Tour documentary by Mike Mills)
- 1999 The Architecture of Reassurance (short film by Mike Mills)
- 2000 The Virgin Suicides (movie by Sofia Coppola)
- 2000 Playground Love (video, Sofia & Roman Coppola)
- 2001 Radio #1 (video, Alex & Martin)
- 2001 How Does It Make You Feel (video, H5 (Antoine Bardou-Jacquet / Ludovic Houplain), features Audrey Marnay)
- 2001 Don't Be Light (video, Jean-François Moriceau / Petra Mrzyk)
- 2002 Sexy Boy, Kelly Watch The Stars, All I Need, Le soleil est près de moi, Playground Love, Radio #1, How Does It Make You Feel (limited promotional DVD for Everybody Hertz which also features two Sébastien Tellier videos)
- 2003 Lost in Translation (movie by Sofia Coppola)
- 2004 Electronic Performers (video, Arnaud Ganzerli / Laurent Bourdoiseau / Jérôme Blanquet)
- 2004 Electronic Performers (35 minutes film by Bruno Dunckel featuring live performances of Electronic Performers, Talisman, Don't Be Light, People In The City and La femme d'argent filmed in the summer of 2002, intercut with interviews and takes of Air on the road, released on a bonus DVD with some pressings of Talkie Walkie)
- 2004 Cherry Blossom Girl (video, Kris Kramski)
- 2004 Surfing on a Rocket (video, Antoine Bardou-Jacquet / Romain Guillon)
- 2004 Alpha Beta Gaga (video, Mathieu Tonetti)
- 2006 Marie Antoinette (2006 film) (movie by Sofia Coppola)
- 2007 Inside Pocket Symphony (15 minutes film by Guillaume de la Perriere)
- 2007 Once Upon a Time (video, Mathieu Tonetti)
[edit] Special projects
- 2002 Monochromaticomouss (Hormonorium, Installation by Décosterd & Rahm)
- 2002 Polyvibratorwaves (Hormonorium, Installation by Décosterd & Rahm)
- 2002 Orange Blossom (Peinture Placebo, Installation by Décosterd & Rahm)
- 2002 Ginger (Peinture Placebo, Installation by Décosterd & Rahm)
- 2003 Near Life Experience (Ballet, Angelin Preljocaj)
- 2004 Pink TV (TV Signation)
- 2006 collaboration on Charlotte Gainsbourg 's album 5:55
- 2007 Aerolite at the Centre Georges Pompidou (Museum of Modern Art in Paris)
