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Air (band)

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For the Japanese band of the same name, see Air (Japanese band).
Air is a French duo, consisting of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel. The two studied architecture at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Versailles before forming a band in 1995. Their 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.

Although Air's music is often referred to as electronica, their form of electronic music really owes more to the synthesizer sounds of the 1970s such as Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis and Francis Lai. Other influences are psychedelic rock pioneers Pink Floyd and Krautrockers, Tangerine Dream, Jean-Jacques Perrey (although there are some echoes of dance music styles in the production), and French crooner Serge Gainsbourg. Air's music also has jazz inflections at times. Before founding Air, JB and Nicolas played together in the band Orange, with others such as Alex Gopher, Xavier Jamaux and Etienne de Crécy – names that have recently reappeared in connection with Air's remixes.

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-Jaques Perrey ("Cosmic Bird"), Gordon Tracks ("Playground Love" and "Easy Going Woman"), Beck (10,000Hz Legend) and, on the 2004 tour, with Dave Palmer and drummer Earl Harvin.

Their music has also frequently been used in commercials. "Surfing on a Rocket" is the background music for the Nissan Armada commercial (2004). "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. "Alpha Beta Gaga" was used in the "Orange" network advert (the try commercial) 2004.

In June 2006 Jean-Benoît Dunckel said in an interview with NME that they had recorded most of the material for a new album. It is expected to be released sometime in 2007, and is apparently a new direction for the band. He also stated that he has a solo album coming up on September 19, 2006, and that most of the tracks will contain piano. The album will have the songs "TV Destroy" and "My Own Sun". Two out of ten songs on the album are instrumental [[1]].

Contents

Discography

Albums

Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel
Enlarge
Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel

Singles/EPs

Compilations

Remixes, non-album and live tracks

Additional single and album remixes

Videos and movies

Special projects

External links

 

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