Moon Safari [25th Anniversary Edition]

by Air

Overview

Although electronica had its fair share of chillout classics prior to the debut of Air, the lion's share were either stark techno (Warp) or sample-laden trip-hop (Mo' Wax). But while Air had certainly bought records and gear based on the artists that had influenced them, they didn't just regurgitate (or sample) them; they learned from them, digesting their lessons in a way that gave them new paths to follow. They were musicians in a producer's world, and while no one could ever accuse their music of being danceable, it delivered the emotional power of great dance music even while pushing the barriers of what "electronica" could or should sound like. (Never again would Saint Etienne be the only band of a certain age to reveal their fondness for Burt Bacharach.) The Modulor EP had displayed astonishing powers of mood and texture, but it was Air's full-length debut, Moon Safari, that proved they could also write accessible pop songs like "Sexy Boy" and "Kelly Watch the Stars." But it wasn't all pop. The opener, "La Femme d'Argent," was an otherworldly beginning, with a slinky bassline evoking Serge Gainsbourg's Histoire de Melody Nelson and a slow glide through seven minutes of growing bliss (plus a wonderful keyboard solo). The vocoderized "Remember" relaunched a wave of robot pop that hadn't been heard in almost 20 years, and the solos for harmonica and French horn on "Ce Matin La" made the Bacharach comparisons direct. Unlike most electronica producers, Air had musical ideas that stretched beyond samplers or keyboards, and Moon Safari found those ideas wrapped up in music that was engaging, warm, and irresistible. ~ John Bush

Product Details

Release Date:	05/17/2024
Label:	Warner Bros Uk
UPC:	5054197906770
Rank:	31719

Tracks

Disc 1

1. La Femme d'argent
2. Sexy Boy
3. All I Need
4. Kelly Watch the Stars
5. Talisman
6. Remember
7. You Make It Easy
8. Ce matin là
9. New Star in the Sky (Chanson pour Solal)
10. Le Voyage de Pénélope

Disc 2

11. Kootchi [Air Remix]
12. Purple [La femme d'argent Mix]
13. Dirty Hiroshima [Demo]
14. New Star in the Sky [Demo]
15. Ce Matin Lá [Demo]
16. Maggot Brain [Live]
17. J'ai Dormi Sous L'eau [BBC Live Session]
18. Sexy Boy [BBC Live Session]
19. Kelly Watch the Stars [BBC Live Session]
20. Kelly Watch the Stars [Extended Version]
21. Remember [David Whitaker Version]

Disc 3

22. Le Femme d'argent
23. Sexy Boy
24. All I Need
25. Kelly Watch the Stars
26. Talisman
27. Remember
28. You Make It Easy
29. Ce matin là
30. New Star in the Sky (Chanson pour Solal)
31. Le Voyage de Pénélope
32. Remember [David Whitaker Version]
33. Sexy Boy [Video]
34. Kelly Watch the Stars [Video]
35. All I Need [Video]
36. Le Soleil est Prés de Moi [Video]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Air   Primary Artist,Vocals
Beth Hirsch   Primary Artist,Chant,Vocals,Choeurs,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background),Lead Vocals,Choir/Chorus
Neneh Cherry   Primary Artist,Vocals
Crustation   Primary Artist
Jean-Benoit Dunckel   Choeurs,Korg M1,Soloist,Vocoder,Clavinet,Keyboards,Mellotron,Mini Moog,Wurlitzer,Synthesizer,Choir/Chorus,Glockenspiel,Handclapping,Fender Rhodes,Orgue Positif,String Ensemble,Korg Synthesizer,Moog Synthesizer,Syrinx,Vocals,Casio,Chant,Organ,Piano,Solina,Vocals (Background),Analogue Synthesizer
Caroline L.   Handclapping
David Whitaker   Conductor,Director,String Conductor,Orchestra Director
Marlon Bois   Drums,Percussion
Caroline Legroux   Handclapping
Enfants Square Burq   Vocals
Nicolas Godin   Vocals (Background),Analogue Synthesizer,Bass,Casio,Chant,Drums,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Rhythm,Shaker,Solina,Syrinx,Vocals,Choeurs,Cymbals,Korg M1,Soloist,Vocoder,Talk Box,Harmonica,Keyboards,Mini Moog,Moog Bass,Moog Lead,Wurlitzer,Percussion,Tambourine,Synthesizer,Choir/Chorus,Drum Machine,Glockenspiel,Handclapping,Fender Rhodes,Guitar (Bass),Electric Cello,String Ensemble,Korg Synthesizer,Moog Synthesizer,Synthesizer Bass,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Deck d'Arcy   Bass
Thomas Mars   Drums,Voices
Brian Reitzell   Drums
Brian Kehew   Keyboards
Christian Mazzalai   Guitar
Laurent Brancowitz   Guitar,Keyboards
Stephane "Alf" Briat   Handclapping
Patrick Woodcock   Tuba,Guitar (Acoustic)
Eric Regert   Organ,Soloist
Roger Manning   Keyboards
Marlon B.   Drums,Battente,Percussion
P. Woodcock   Tuba,Guitar (Acoustic),Tuba
Francoise Hardy   Featured Artist
Marlon   Drums,Percussion

Technical Credits

Jean-Benoit Dunckel   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording
Nilesh "Nilz" Patel   Mastering
Jerome Kerner   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Jack Arel   Composer
Bronagh Slevin   Composer
Mike Mills   Design
Mary Anne Hobbs   Engineer
Cia Berg   Composer
Mark Taylor   Composer
Olivier Dulion   Assistant
Nilesh Patel   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
David Whitaker   Arranger,String Arrangements,Arranger,Direction,String Arrangements,Orchestral Arrangements
Jean-Marcel Leroy   Composer
Stig Manley   Composer
George Clinton   Composer
Air   Producer,Remixing,Additional Production
Brian Reitzell   Engineer
Gildas Lointier   Mixing,Mastering
Beth Hirsch   Composer,Performer
Etienne de Crecy   Producer
Stephane "Alf" Briat   Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Mixing Engineer
Bruce Keen   Mixing
Booga Bear   Producer
Patrick Woodcock   Composer
Jerome Blondel   Assistant,Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Dave Allen   Engineer,Producer
Michael F. Mills   Design
Cameron McVey   Composer
Steve Grippa Hopwood   Composer
Ian Dark   Composer
P. Woodcock   Composer
Eddie Hazel   Composer
Jean-Jacques Perrey   Composer
Jonny Dollar   Additional Production
Peter Cobbin   Arranger,Engineer
Neneh Cherry   Composer
Nicolas Godin   Beats,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording