AIR 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: It seems like ages since we last heard from Jean-Benoit Dunckel and Nicholas Godin, the one-time lounge-obsessed downtempo dons turned psychedelic oddballs. This is their first album since 2009's rather underwhelming Love 2, and a bit of an unlikely triumph. Largely based on their score for George Melies' 1903 silent move Le Voyage Dans La Lune (included here on a bonus DVD), it sees them deliver an atmospheric set that seemingly joins the dots between their slinky downtempo past and crackly, Krautrock-influenced present. It's an intoxicating blend that offers an enticing balance between vintage synth tomfoolery, stargazing electronica and crusty, vaguely psychedelic experimentation.

Review: Air is the latest in a long line of acclaimed artists to share their personal music collection with the world in the form of Azuli’s album series "Late Night Tales". Individually known as Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel, the duo began working with each other ten years ago, and had produced "Modular" and "Casanova '70" before "Moon Safari" saw them release a string of singles to give the charts a good French kiss in 1998 followed by heavy-duty touring and some of the funniest interviews ever given by French people. Given 75 minutes of "Late Night Tales" at their disposal, it's axiomatic that The Song is paramount. Thus fellow countryman Sebastien Tellier makes a deserved appearance, alongside artists like Lee Hazlewood, Scott Walker, The Troggs, Cat Power, Tan Dun & George Delerue, as well as Air's collaboration with writer Alessandro Baricco "Musica".