Disco de Air: “Moon Safari [10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition]”

Not to go over board with this, but in my opinion, Air's Moon Safari is, hands down, the best electronic album made to date. Jean-Benoit Dunkel and Nicholas Godin, the french duo that makes up Air created a sonic masterpiece that captured a style and atmosphere there transcends time and place. This album has stayed as fresh sounding and vibrant as the day it came out; and this is quite a feat in a genre where most music sounds dated within 6 months. This is not cheesy kid's electronica - these compositions will embrace you like a warm summer day and move your soul.

Like a lot of other people, I dismissed Air initally until I eventually decided to buy the album based on that fact that I could not get "Kelly Watch The Stars" out of my head! Little did I know that I would totally fall in love with "Moon Safari". It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. Perfect for listening to if you need to "chill out". I really mean that! This album could be prescribed as an anti-depressant. Unlike other dance music, Air use real instruments in their work and it gives the music a soul and personality. Most importantly though, Air have placed the emphasis on writing gorgeous melodies, so whether it's an instrumental track, or one of the tracks sung(beautifully) by Beth Hirsch, it will eventually work it's way into your head where it stays! My personal favourite on this album is "Remember", but other highlights include "La Femme d'Argent", "All I Need" and of course, "Kelly Watch The Stars". It may not be an "instant" album, but I can pretty much guarantee satisfaction after a few listens.

although i am averse to the label "intelligent dance music", air really is just that. too mellow to be a party disc, too upbeat to be a stoner's favorite, "moon safari" is an irresistible electronic pleasure. dunckel and godin have crafted a sound deeply indebted to space-rock, lounge jazz, and 80s new wave, but it is instantly recognizable as their own. they stay true to that theme throughout the album, but it is certainly not repetitive. there is ample room for experimentation and innovative approaches to the chill-out, moody sentiment that dominates the record. smatterings of strings, robotic voices, and spaced-out sounds reminiscent of james bond are the proverbial cherry-on-the-top. "la femme d'argent", "sexy boy", and "all i need" provide a triumphant triumvirate of an opening, and the remainder of the album never lets go from there on. if you're at all intrigued by any of this, i doubt you will be disappointed by a purchase of this essentially flawless disc.

I wanted to hear what French pop music sounded like, and upon logging on here to amazon.com and checking out the sound samples for this one I knew I had to have it.

I wasn't disappointed in the least. Easily the most beautiful disc I have heard in years from a new-to-discover act since The Dream Academy, Air have a wonderous command of that special language called music that is a sheer joy to behold.

Spacey and psychedelic (in an innocently beautiful David Gilmour way), it's been accompanying me everywhere in my duffel and has yet to leave my sight. It's a disc for dreamers and idealists and hopeless romantics who thought that songcraft like this died in the upheaval of techno acts.

The lyrics are partially in French and partially in English, but since people in America tend to think that the French language is beautiful and romantic by its very sound and style (I agree on that ideal as well) it isn't surprising that my American ears find that the French lyrics only add to the disc's overall loveliness.

While I love the entire disc from start to finish, there is one standout instrumental which I think is the most gorgeous piece of joyful melodic poetry since The Beatles and Henry Mancini. It's called "Ce Matin La", and it conjures up images in my mind of roaming meadows with my dog on a bright summer day, of visiting beautiful new cities, of seeing majestic mountain ranges and sunset-lit oceans. A piece so breathtakingly majestic it nearly brings me to tears.

One thing I'm definitely going to do, though: the moment I finally get to see Paris as I've always wanted, I'm bringing along this disc to keep it pumping in my ears for the trip! Somehow this one strikes me as a perfect soundtrack for one's very first visit to the famous city. That's the only thing I think could possibly make the album any better!

Thank you, Air... you've given us all around the world a masterpiece that deserves to live forever. I look forward to much more from you!

(NOTE: I also recommend checking out their CD "Premiers Symptomes" which is both affordable and also every bit as hypnotic.)

This the perfect chill-out CD, one of the best of all time. The music is very fluent and easy on the ears. I like to put this in my car when I'm driving late at night, or if I have some buddies over and just relax. Anyone who has a chilled-out side and likes atmospheric and cinematic music should definitely check this CD out. You will not regret it, I assure you.