One interesting byproduct of Nineties Global Culture is that it's now possible to publically admit you're a French band without immediately having people throw things at you and chase you away. Air take things a step further by actually being very, very good. Moon Safari is packed with musical kitsch -- seventies lounge-funk a la William Orbit on "La Femme D'Argent", eighties analog synths in vocorder heaven on "Kelly Watch the Stars" -- you get the picture. "Talisman's" seductive symphonic strings and bedroom disco beat are at once timeless and utterly modern, and you'll hum the emotional melody from "Remember", a Jean-Jacques Perrey collaboration, for hours after you've heard it. The beauty of Moon Safari is its conviction; nothing is played for musical laughs. Rather than simply aping the musical styles of bygone eras, Air have made a sincere attempt to create modern songs that include potentially kitschy elements without lampooning them or exploiting them as novelties. That's why the tuba (!) and production-music vibe of "Ce Matin La" works so well, and why the wall-of-keyboard sound of "Sexy Boy" will eventually overthrow Stateside dancefloors. Those looking for contemporary club beats might find Air a bit stifling, but most will see Moon Safari's latter-day romanticism as just the right kind of exotica.
Air Moon Safari Caroline CD
			Review by Jean-Jacques-George Zahora

to splendid home page