[4ziggy]

A Jazzy / Alternative band with a sythesized sound encompassing all emotions...except maybe anger

I have been searching this newsgroup looking for basic fundamental collections. One of the ones I see missing is AIR. This band is so kick butt that they are named after an essential element

In the counterculture to which I belong, AIR is the french rival of the British band Zero 7. Both have their differences and are appreciated by many of the same fans.

Let's start with their latest album: POCKET SYMPHONY.

Each album, Air usually incorporates some talented Artist, yet has a way of manipulating the artist to 'buy in' to their vision. For Pocket Symphony, that artist is Jarvis Cocker doing a song called 'Somewhere Between Waking and Sleeping'. For habit, I always look into an artists that appear as guests on albums I like. All I have to say is that the artists on AIR end up doing songs out of their normal sound with stunning results.

Let's use another album as an example: MOON SAFARI.

One of my favorite albums that some of the songs seem to hint a Pink Floyd sort of timelessness while other songs are upbeat jazzy. Beth Hirsch is the guest on this album and unfortunately for her, seems to be her fans favorite songs.

10K Hz LEGEND.

Expiremental with sounds, a little spacy, yet still a must have. There are a couple guest singers on this album including one of my favorite...BECK. I actually went to the same school as the artist known as BECK and have met him several times. In fact when I went to his show in Hawaii, me and my friends were escorted in because they thought we were his friends...apparently looked like the people he was hanging out with. While at that show, he was actually practicing the song that appeared on AIR's album prior to the album's release. I am glad that I was already a fan of AIR or I would have never known to find that song.

PREMIERE SYMPTONES.

Let's talk about AIR Roots, french singing with mellow jazz beats.

TALKIE WALKIE

Came out after 10k Hz LEGEND, it is not quite as experimental, and starts defining starts and stops to songs a little more to a produced sound. One of my favorites includes 'Alone in Kyoto' with a hint of Japanese influence.

[vikulenka]

Originally Posted by 4ziggy

An ELECTRONIC and DREAMY artist with all emotions incorporated...except maybe anger

Bugger... That's just not going to work for me. Not a fan of electronic music, dreamy though it may be

[4ziggy]

What music does not incorporate some sort of synthesizer in it? Very Few. I think the problem with AIR is their lack of Genre. It is like calling Tangerine Dream rock back in the day. It's just a category to place the unplaceable.

If you are a band doing your own thing, how do you break out? By creating a new genre? And how does that new genre fit in with all of the existing today. Even with this newsgroup, the genre list probably encompasses 33% of the typical music store. Not including sub-genres.

And if anyone has heard Air and has negative criticism, that is welcomed too.

I will change dreamy because I think I may have stolen VIC's word

Due to the combining of two major genres, I apologize to waste the time of the Alternative fans within this newsgroup.

~Zig

[solaris]

Originally Posted by 4ziggy

A Jazzy / Alternative band with a sythesized sound encompassing all emotions...except maybe anger

I have been searching this newsgroup looking for basic fundamental collections. One of the ones I see missing is AIR. This band is so kick butt that they are named after an essential element

In the counterculture to which I belong, AIR is the french rival of the British band Zero 7. Both have their differences and are appreciated by many of the same fans.

Let's start with their latest album: POCKET SYMPHONY.

Each album, Air usually incorporates some talented Artist, yet has a way of manipulating the artist to 'buy in' to their vision. For Pocket Symphony, that artist is Jarvis Cocker doing a song called 'Somewhere Between Waking and Sleeping'. For habit, I always look into an artists that appear as guests on albums I like. All I have to say is that the artists on AIR end up doing songs out of their normal sound with stunning results.

Let's use another album as an example: MOON SAFARI.

One of my favorite albums that some of the songs seem to hint a Pink Floyd sort of timelessness while other songs are upbeat jazzy. Beth Hirsch is the guest on this album and unfortunately for her, seems to be her fans favorite songs.

10K Hz LEGEND.

Expiremental with sounds, a little spacy, yet still a must have. There are a couple guest singers on this album including one of my favorite...BECK. I actually went to the same school as the artist known as BECK and have met him several times. In fact when I went to his show in Hawaii, me and my friends were escorted in because they thought we were his friends...apparently looked like the people he was hanging out with. While at that show, he was actually practicing the song that appeared on AIR's album prior to the album's release. I am glad that I was already a fan of AIR or I would have never known to find that song.

PREMIERE SYMPTONES.

Let's talk about AIR Roots, french singing with mellow jazz beats.

TALKIE WALKIE

Came out after 10k Hz LEGEND, it is not quite as experimental, and starts defining starts and stops to songs a little more to a produced sound. One of my favorites includes 'Alone in Kyoto' with a hint of Japanese influence.

Hi 4ziggy.


I really liked "Kelly, Watch The Stars" from Moon Safari

[4ziggy]

Hey Solaris,

I like that tune as well. One album I forgot to mention (I rarely listen to it) is the Virgin Suicide Movie Soundtrack that they did. That is probably their most mainstream song which was actually played on the Radio for a short time (Playground Love).

[4ziggy]

BTW Solaris,

It does not surprise me out of all the albums, why you have MOON Safari

I try to refrain from stating specific songs as everyone percieves music differently. I just try and do my part to enrich the exploration.

~Zig

[MeridianFC-Suited]

"Moon Safari" is a must. As far as electronic, I suppose it is but they've never struck me as "electronic" if that makes any sense.

[Baggiesfaninessex]

Their sound is based around keyboards and electronics, rather than Guitar, bass, keys and drums. So for me, Electronic fits the bill.

However, the Electronic genre itself is huge and there's a world of difference between for instance, Jean Michel Jarre and Air (apart from the fact they're both French ), Vangelis and Tomita, Kitaro and Peter Namlook, Andy Pickford and Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk, etc.

And that's where although the world of sub genres becomes more definitive, it can also make it all rather messy and confusing.

Also, don't you think that by its very nature, the categorisation of music by genre, means that many people miss out on a lot of great music by way of classification by association?

[Starcat]

Originally Posted by Baggiesfaninessex

Their sound is based around keyboards and electronics, rather than Guitar, bass, keys and drums. So for me, Electronic fits the bill.

However, the Electronic genre itself is huge and there's a world of difference between for instance, Jean Michel Jarre and Air (apart from the fact they're both French ), Vangelis and Tomita, Kitaro and Peter Namlook, Andy Pickford and Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk, etc.

And that's where although the world of sub genres becomes more definitive, it can also make it all rather messy and confusing.

Also, don't you think that by its very nature, the categorisation of music by genre, means that many people miss out on a lot of great music by way of classification by association?

Agree totally with your last point

The media are to blame for most of this pigeon-holing of artists into a certain genre, there seems to be a new sub-genre invented every day!

To me, you should enjoy whatever music you want, old or new, hip or unhip, in any musical style you care to name, and not be told by the media what you should be listening to.

[squash54]

Originally Posted by Baggiesfaninessex

And that's where although the world of sub genres becomes more definitive, it can also make it all rather messy and confusing.

Also, don't you think that by its very nature, the categorisation of music by genre, means that many people miss out on a lot of great music by way of classification by association?

I agree with this and, if I had more time, would have quite a rant about it

Personally, I have discovered more new music that I enjoy (classical and modern) via the - "If you like x then you should have a listen y" recommendation method

Cheers,

Squash