It was so cool in the late nineties, chilling out in lounges. Air provided the soundtrack. Music that you still like to listen to. Yes, the two Frenchmen are still around - and they're finally playing live again.
They were both born in 1969, both come from the Parisian suburb of Versailles, and they founded Air in 1995. The Britpop hype had just died down and people wanted to hear something different. Nicolas Godin remembers: "Until then, the French had been known more as chefs and fashion designers. Not as pop musicians." A gap that
they saw as an opportunity. The fact that they still sang in English was pure calculation, he reveals. "Our strong French accent made us even more French. That went down well, but especially abroad. You still can't find us in France. The French have bad taste in music." They were celebrated in neighboring Europe, but also in the USA. In 1999, director Sofia Coppola had them write the soundtrack to the drama "The Virgin Suicides". Successful albums and sold-out tours followed with regularity.
However, Air had gone quiet in recent years and the musicians had made themselves scarce. In 2014, the album "Music for Museum" was only released in a vinyl edition of 1000 copies. Air had become routine, complained Nicolas Godin - and turned to a solo album. He said that he had immersed himself in the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and had set himself the goal of bringing his music closer to a younger generation. Jean-Benoît Dunckel also turned to his own projects.
There comes a time when you don't make love anymore.
Now the surprise: Air have been back on tour since the end of May, and the best-of album "Twentyears" has been released. The Superdelux edition, which will be released on July 22, includes a double CD with 17 previously unreleased tracks.
New songs from Air, that's what we want. Will you be able to hear them when Air play at Blue Balls in Lucerne on July 22? JB's answer is disappointing: "There are no new songs. It's a very natural development. When you're a couple, there comes a time when you don't make love anymore." Is this Air's farewell tour? JB: "I don't know, we'll see. It's like when dad and mom suddenly have other partners, maybe they'll get back together, maybe not. It's not certain." There will be no new songs, but the stage setting is first-class, JB consoles. "We have rich light that is broken up into fractal rainbow colors, clouds, depth. That goes well with our music." And as always, everything on stage will be live. "We don't have any playbacks or programs," says JB.
Apparently the air isn't quite out of Air yet. Nicolas: "With the tour, we also want to present ourselves to a younger generation who don't yet know our sound." They both still enjoy playing their old songs. "'Moon Safari' is still fresh and good," says Nicolas. "But when I hear it today, it makes me feel old."
AIR
22.07.16, Blue Balls Festival Lucerne
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