Now On Air: Pocket Symphony

Not to be confused with the japanese rock artist Air,(who is good, too, but more on that later!) the french electronic-symphonic band Air are continuing to make some of the best songs of all time. First, their debut (LP) Moon Safari was a much more incredible album than the on-par singles (Sexy Boy, Kelly Watch the Stars) would have had you believe. Then, they collaborated with Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette) for the soundtrack to her directorial debut, The Virgin Suicides, in which they exhibited a focus somewhat less on electro sounds. (They also have other connections to the film art world, working with Mike Mills (Thumbsucker) for many of their music videos.)


Electronic Performers:



How Does It Make You Feel:




10,000 hertz legend came after, continuing much of the very creepy sounds that were imbibed from the influence of Coppola's work. Later, Talkie Walkie continued their legacy of soft, jazzy, diverse music - probably the least electronic musicians to still be labelled electronica.

Cherry Blossom Girl: (caution - NSFW!)


More recently, 2006 was a busy year for the band. They composed much (most? all?) of the music for Charlotte Gainsbourg's wonderful album 5:55. Monthe later, 1/2 (the Dunckel half) of Air released his solo album under the Darkel moniker. That album sounds like an Air release, but mixed with another French techno duo, Daft Punk; that is to say, he resumed Air's electro roots. Around the same time, the Late Night Tales compilation was released, as sort of an Air-branded compilation of their influences, to be used as a mixtape for chill-out sessions, lazy afternoons, etx etx.

But NOW, Air's newest full-length, Pocket Symphony, has been made available months before its proper release in March. Whether willingly, to build hype, or covertly, maybe extracted from their studio's database by some haxxer with a killer taste in music, I care not. All I know is, I'm happy to hear another Air record that lives up to their quickly-becoming-legendary name.