Moon Safari - Air

Moon Safari is the debut album from French duo Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel AKA Air. Released in 1998 it is a classic electronic album. It debuted on the UK album charts at number 5 and is described by themselves as “Space Pop”

Moon Safari is an eclectic mix of synth-pop, acoustic guitars and faux-string arrangements often reminiscent of 60 French pop or the soundtracks to French Films of the same era. Sexy Boy was the first single taken from the album and the one that really sold it. Its distorted synth hook drives the track along, mixing the gritty sound with gurgling beeps to great effect. The Sexy Boy video was directed by Mike Mills (who also designed the sleeve) and details the fantasy adventure of a flying monkey who goes into space, as dreamt up by Air while playing with a stuffed toy in New York. Fantastic stuff!!!

Kelly Watch The Stars (Ok the title kind of gives it away) is a spacey song. Again the electro synth sound of the two boys keeps the song moving along but the piano section gives it a warm natural feel. Beautiful, minimalist with fantastic spacious guitars, All I Need features vocals from American singer songwriter Beth Hirsch. She appears again on You Make It Easy a soft sensual love song featuring wave sounds where once again Air show their gift at exploring the melodic side of electronic music. La Femme D’Argent is a warm bassy song with more synth schenagry throughout, a slow chill out song that builds to a wonderful climax, it's a signature Air song, and one the evening Live Drive crew can’t get enough of!

Moon Safari is the future set to the sounds of the past. It is French pomp given a new wave makeover. It is romantic and eloquent without having to say much. While the rest of the electronic world were busy getting there BPM’s to go faster Air were slowing it all down to produce a masterpiece of irresistible electro pop chill out music.

Track listing
1. La Femme D'Argent
2. Sexy Boy
3. All I Need - (with Beth Hirsch)
4. Kelly Watch The Stars
5. Talisman
6. Remember
7. You Make It Easy - (with Beth Hirsch)
8. Ce Matin La
9. New Star In The Sky :: Chanson Pour Solal
10. Le Voyage De Penelope