Air (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = AIR

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Img_capt = AIR at the Eurockéennes 2007
Background = group_or_band
Origin = France
Genre = Electronica, Downtempo, Ambient, Trip hop
Years_active = 1995–present
Label = Astralwerks
URL = [http://www.intairnet.org/ www.intairnet.org]
Current_members = Nicolas Godin Jean-Benoît Dunckel
Past_members =

AIR is a French (from region Île-de-France) music duo, consisting of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel. The name AIR is a backronym for " _fr. Amour, Imagination, Rêve" [Lesieur, Jennifer: "AIR de A à Z". Étudiant, L', 2002] which translates to Love, Imagination, Dream.

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), "10 000 Hz Legend", "Everybody Hertz", "Talkie Walkie" and "Pocket Symphony".

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 went on a European tour in March, followed by a North America tour that included an appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. In March 2008, they toured Australia for the first time with the V Festival.

Career

Genesis of the 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. These musicians have subsequently contributed to remixes of tracks recorded by AIR.

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 include: 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 ("10 000 Hz 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.

Other works

On September 18, 2006, "Darkel", a solo album by Jean-Benoît Dunckel, was released.

AIR have also recorded a DJ mix album, "", 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". AIR drummer and former Redd Kross member Brian Reitzell put together the soundtrack to "Lost in Translation" including contributions from AIR. The soundtrack for Sofia Coppola's latest film "Marie Antoinette" also features a track by AIR.

'City Reading' [2003] started as an idea for a collaboration with contemporary Italian writer Alessandro Baricco, known for his unusual characterizations and lyrical, poetic style. Barrico contacted AIR in summer 2002 with the idea to marry narration of texts from his book 'City' with live original musical accompaniment. The performance premiered live in November 2002 at Rome’s Teatro Valle, and was deemed such a success that both parties resolved to make a full studio recording that resulted in the album 'City Reading: Tre Storie Western'

AIR wrote and played the music of the album "" 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.Fact|date=September 2008

Discography

* "Premiers Symptômes" (1997)
* "Moon Safari" (1998)
* "The Virgin Suicides" (2000)
* "10 000 Hz Legend" (2001)
* "City Reading" "(with Alessandro Baricco)" (2003)
* "Talkie Walkie" (2004)
* "Pocket Symphony" (2007)

References

External links

* [http://www.pocket-symphony.com/ Official website of the band]
* [http://www.astralwerks.com/air/ Air] at Astralwerks, the band's current record label
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* [http://frenchband.free.fr/ A fansite]
* [http://www.airfrenchband.org/ Air Forum]