Album: Air – Le Voyage Dans La Lune

Air
Le Voyage Dans La Lune
Astralwerks
3 and a half stars

Yet again Air have shown they don’t do things by the book. Choosing to re-ignite the flame of 1902 sci-fi film Le Voyage Dans La Lune (A Trip to the Moon) with a soundtrack in homage to it, the omnipresent French electro-gods have defied expectations.

The album is about as chart-friendly as you would expect from a soundtrack to a 110 year-old science-fiction movie, yet still manages to hold an innate charm. Soft ambles ‘Moon Fever’ and ‘Seven Stars’ are juxtaposed with space-age stomps, such as the 5-minute ‘Sonic Armada’, which borrows more than a little of the Moon Safari charm. Nevertheless, this is not a collection likely to attract those not already fervent Air aficionados.

Although it could be seen as not a great deal more than glorified lift music, Air have once more maintained their inherent ability to do the most unexpected. Following the success of Le Voyage Dans La Lune at last year’s Cannes film festival, Air must be seen to have succeeded in their mission in bringing the one-time cinematic pioneer marching in to the 21^st century. Although many won’t be too interested in the new path of the grandfathers of electronica, it could well be an avenue of great promise. I like it.

Air – Parade