Moon Safari
Air
1998
Album Summary
Moon Safari is the debut studio album by French electronic music duo Air, released on 16 January 1998 by Source and Virgin Records. Moon Safari was re-released on 14 April 2008 to mark the album's 10th anniversary, including a bound book, a DVD documentary about the duo, and a bonus CD with live performances and remixes. Moon Safari was acclaimed by critics. It is credited with setting the stage for the budding downtempo music style. By February 2012, it had sold 386,000 copies in the United States.
WikipediaThis record shows in some cases a similar style to Daft Punk, but with fewer extremely annoying "experimental" sirenes and blaring synthesizers that make you want to pierce your eardrums with a toothpick. However, some songs do depend too much on generic elevator/video-game menu music vibes, or take a little bit too long to become exciting. Songs that are worth being added to my collection, are Voyage, Ce matin-la, Femme d'argent, Kelly and All I Need. I feel that each of these songs adds something new to the experience, different instrumentals, different tempo but the same funky and relaxing atmosphere. With me liking exactly 50 percent of the album, I feel it deserves an overall score of 6/10.
Surprisingly enjoyable. I thought, upon hearing the first track “okay some more ephereal French flim flam - let’s see how this goes” but with a light hand on the tiller, Air guide us through the rivers of the world. Unusual, and quite unique sounding - there’s plenty of tonal variety and texture within the gestalt of waifish French flim flam. You know what? I’ve talked myself into a 4. In reality probably a 3.5, but I’m feeling good after that, so yeah. 4.
I’ve officially reached one full week of experiencing and giving my impressions of the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. It’s been a fun and rewarding project and this is album number seven. The second of which I knew absolutely nothing about.. The album of the day is titled Moon Safari by the French band Air. This effort was released in 1998, one of my favorite years in music in my lifetime in that I was old enough to really start making my own decisions in what I like but more importantly, when I was able to buy my own collection of cassettes and tapes. Full disclosure, I’m not all that knowledgeable about electronic music, EDM, techno and all other related music. I can’t name a single Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers or The Prodigy song. (I do know Fire Starter though!) While I’ve never been able to relate to a lot of this style of music, I respect it and acknowledge it’s influential impact on many, many other genres, including my first love, hip hop. Now that I’ve gotten the homage paying part out of the way, I have to give my honest thoughts on Moon Safari with having only 24 hours with it... There are so many other better albums that could have taken the place of this mediocre record. I don’t intend to offend, but I doubt that I will. Sure, if you put this cassette in the tape deck of my 1988 Acura Integra in 1998, I won’t go rushing for the eject button. It’s not bad at all in any way. I really didn’t mind it. It just didn’t scratch any particular itch for me. I didn’t find myself yearning to hear any of these songs again. Sometimes I’ll listen to a new song obsessively on repeat. Not the case here. I do really like the bass on most tracks. The few songs that actually had vocals were okay. The 70’s synthesizers were dope. I’m not hating on Air or their debut album Moon Safari.. But.. In the end, I won’t go back to this album. I need re-playability in my music. If I’m watching a movie and hear a song from this cut in the soundtrack, I may not even recognize it. There are a couple stand out cuts from a project that, to me, sounded more like a demo from a couple of really talented producers that have yet to find their muse. The second song on the record, Sexy Boy, was the most satisfying with the synthetic voice as a catchy rift. The title song, Moon Safari, one of the two only songs that featured a singer, is a cool 90’s love song. I just feel like their are many other really good albums that should have had their place in this collection. Such as Salt’n Pepa’s Hot Cool and Vicious, or The Barenaked Ladies Stunt album released the same year as Moon Safari, a massive hit. Those are just two examples of monster records that were left off of the list. Oh well. At the end of the day, I didn’t write the book, I’m just consuming it. I’m enjoying every album no matter what. Please share your thoughts, memories and impressions, especially if you’ve experienced Moon Safari for the first time because of this post. If you know and love this album to death, and hold it dearly to your heart please feel free to tell me how wrong I am, because we all perceive music differently and that’s okay!! ✌️
Oh, it sounds like this?! Saw this album dozens of times as a kid without ever hearing it. Expected it to sound like proto-Landfill Indie but it actually sounds like a coma patient waking up. Because it renders 60's positivity with a 90's futurism whose grasp almost exceeds its reach, that patient could be any number of dead, buried and long-forgotten bands. And because the silly-spooky voices and cute piano figures are imbued with a wry whimsy, I'm guessing the band find their venture both fun and funny. I do too, without ever being totally roused out of my hospital bed. Also has the MASSIVE benefit of featuring THAT song from 10 Things I Hate About You, which I probably watched as many times as I saw this album cover in HMV.
Psychedelic synth porn got me drooling omg. The basslines are varied both in melody and in tone with some upright, some electric, and lots of synth bass everywhere. It's like a retro Avalanches record. Which, notable difference is how analogue everything sounds and I can't really describe it any other way. I also love the mixing in this - very much an album for headphones and drugs. My only gripe is that Sexy Boy doesn't hit and some of the songs run a bit long.
Man, I'd totally forgotten about this band. There was a short period where this album was on regular rotation in my college apartment. I had a roomate who became totally enamored with them after hearing one of their tracks on a commercial. I actually really like several of these tracks despite Air being part of that same European school of electronic music as Daft Punk. The repetitiveness of the songs tends to annoy me after three minutes in or so. The songs are, on average, about a minute longer than they should be. That said, it's an album full of good, chill, background jams. I still a fan of La Femme d'Argent, All I Need, and Talisman.
Wow, it's incredible how boring they are able to be. I don't think I've heard many more boring albums in my entire life (OK, Bob Marley is still worse). Not sure why anyone would ever put this on except for just letting something play in the background that won't distract people and which they won't remember.
So many memories of young adulthood. Original, immaculate and superbly produced album
Put this record on, fix yourself a cocktail, close your eyes and you can almost feel those Cafe Del Mar come-downs.
31st May 2021 Listened on the drive home to London. Sometimes an album catches you perfectly, and this says a lot about the importance of when and where you listen to an album. Summer afternoon, window down, perfect. Air walked so Daft Punk could do the robot?
I'm not sure how it's taken me almost a quarter of a century to listen to this, but I certainly won't be leaving it 23 years before its next spin. A brilliant album from start to finish. A really nice, vibe that hits the perfect spot between fun and relaxing. Some bangers that I was already familiar with, interspersed with chilled out tracks, giving this album a great flow and feel. Effortlessly cool and catchy without being cheesy. Instantly love it.
So I was thinking, I've been handing out too many 5 stars lately, therefore Moon Safari needs to get 4 stars. But then I started listening to the album again after, admittedly, way too long a break. The bass lines on the first track (La femme d'argent) were all it took to make me shiver and recall taking the chance and buying the CD based on an old friend's recommendation. And then Sexy Boy, and then Beth Hirsch's voice, and on and on - each and every song on this album is something special. I'm sorry to say it, but this is "another" 5 stars album. How I loved Air! But I still need a lot of Air.
<3333 Prefs: La Femme d'Argent, Sexy Boy, Talisman, Ce Matin-Là, New Start in the Sky, Le Voyage de Pénélope Moins pref: Remember
Really fantastic album, enjoyed it a lot. Kind of reminiscent of Portishead in the downtempo instrumentals with the occasional Daft Punk-esque vocoded vocals. Didn't know what to expect going in but it was excellent.
What a breath of fresh air. It's easy to understand how this kind of thing could take over the world. I remember first hearing Air during the worst hangover I had in my life - new year's day after a night of too many different types of alcohol - beer, whiskey, wine, champagne, gin... I was debilitated, couldn't go out, couldn't move, and my friend put them on and it provided a nice cool atmosphere to make me feel, at least temporarily, a little less miserable. That memory aside, I found this album irresistible.
This album manages to create an entire atmosphere bubble in your living room. It's so original and fresh, I highly recommend the adventure!
I can't believe this was released in 98! This was so influential when it came out, I was into Sophia Coppola's films at the time also, particularly Virgin Suicides so this really hit the spot. The way they were able to blend groovy sounds from the 60s and 70s into this new \"chill out\" sound was really innovative and this album holds up surprisingly well today.
Blissfully drifted away on a sunny Friday morning. The mellow sounds made be want to swim in a tranquil sea...with a group of people, in order to stop the tyranny of our Hollywood paedophile overlords.
This is a sexy album. It conjures the vision of a chic lounge sparsely filled to capacity with beautiful, well dressed Parisians. Perhaps tonight I will dream of being invited in.
There are some gorgeous songs here. These guys really know how to craft a relaxing and wondrous atmosphere to get lost in. Unfortunately, the line between "relaxing and wondrous" and "just kinda boring:" is a thin one, and it is nearly a coin flip to determine which side any song falls on. It is a nice album, but not consistent enough for me in its execution.
Starting to think this 1001 albums thing is bullshit. I can write a better book and curate a better list.
Lot's of big hits on this one. Will need to listen deeper. "Sexy Boy" and "All I need" are staples of the 90s.
I was not expecting to love this album the way I did. It is a level of chill and relaxing that is just sublime, and the choices of pads and synths carry the sound without ever getting stale. Best one so far.
Perfect, just what I was looking for on a cloud Saturday. Really well made.
I knew this album and forgot I knew it. I listen to the first track pretty often on a playlist I like. I've heard the 2nd song a lot. I finally listened to the whole album sometime last year and really like it.
I was surprised to find this album, totally rocks #1001albumsgenerator https://1001albumsgenerator.com/ssb
Smooth, elegant & timeless. When I listened to it 25 years ago I thought there was a bit of "filler" on side 2 but not now.
Excellent! Great songs on this album which I would never have known the artist unless listening to JLAC.
A classic album of its time. Could listen to it all day long, and yet for some reason hadn't put it on in years. Thanks for the reminder of how bloody good it is.
Stunning album and a genuine all-time favourite of mine. So this gets maximum possible points for the music but I'm slightly less sure about the legacy/influence/significance (although I'm basing this largely on Wiki). Either way a sick album, with no weak points. 9.5/10
Stone cold classic. Haven’t listened to the full album in years and forgot how good it is. No dud tracks.
Was intrigued by this one. Thought I'd not come across them before but found 1 track already on a playlist of mine. Enjoyed it - great music 4 working from home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_psebBaOFM that was my reaction to seeing this superb album.
Ya lo conocía. Tengo un cd de ellos, pero no es éste. Venga, le doy un 5.
This album was on constantly at the photo studio I worked at in the late 90's. I loved it then and love it now.
I always used to think French pop started and finished with Serge Gainsbourg. This is the album that changed my mind
An old favourite - nice to revisit and one track made it into the wedding playlist
Lekker dromerig. Maar toch interessant genoeg om er de aandacht bij te kunnen houden. De 3 singles uit het album kende ik al. Maar de rest is ook zeker de moeite waard.
Great album. Reminds me of working nights at a TV studio and playing that in the background while working.
Brought back some good memories of listening to this and The Virgin Suicides.
Cool versatile album. Love thd wontempo chill wave, also cool that they did this back in the late 90s,seems very ahead of its time!
We have really failed as a species considering the fact that we don't make more music that sounds like this.
My first listen was while working (coding) and it was nice, would give a 5 based on that, but ofc didnt pay much attention. Second listen I actually payed attention and have to say I like this. 4.5 but rounding it up
That was genuinely amazing. It's like Pink Floyd Daft Punk, which sounds like the stupidest thing ever, but actually works really well. I found that the weakest track for me was yet again the first one. Maybe my ears needed some warming up, I don't know. After that it's great song after great song. The biggest highlights for me were "Sexy Boy", "You Make it Easy", "New Star in the Sky". Turns out French electronic elevator music goes HARD. This and Oxygene, which I just had four days ago.
Great album. Absolute pioneering chilled electronics which has wel stood the test of time.
So many songs I love in this album and inadvertently listening to them for years on chill out albums before I knew who they were !
I'm a bit biased since this is one of my favourite albums already. This is like pure silk through the avenues of my mind, so cool it defies classification and about as mellow as you'll ever need.
I remember hearing & digging this album when it came out, but I seem to have lost track of it sometime over the course of the last 24 years.
A masterpiece in 90s downtempo. It's beautiful, nostalgic, and a vibe for every occasion, whether for background, study, relaxation, or dancing. There are accessible pop songs back and forth with atmospheric spacey instrumental tracks. Every sound is perfected, not a single weak track. They nailed down the track ordering. Did they seriously make all the sounds themselves? With the only (possible) samples being small artistic choices like the children laughing in "New Star in the Sky"? Not sure how to describe it well, but I like how the songs carry me through feelings of anticipation and resolution, there's no repetition but I look forward to how to resolve parts they build up to.
Late 90s classic. Still a great album, so 5 stars, with a note that its successor (10000000 Hz Legend) is the real classic (1000000 stars)
Ya lo conocía. Tengo un cd de ellos, pero no es éste. Venga, le doy un 5.
I immediately recognized the first song, even though I've never heard of the artist or album. I enjoy the downtempo vibes and slow grooves. My head was nodding along to the easy beats and I can definitely see myself coming back to this for easy, instrumental listening during work. Loved this!
Thoroughly enjoyed this album. Had the feel on the mid- to late-90s downtempo electronica. I felt transported back to high school with this one. Almost felt like if Röyksopp co-wrote the backing tracks with Fiona Apple, with a bit of Massive Attack mixed in for fun. The '60s and '70s era synths mixed with instruments was a welcome surprise. The overall album was pleasant, though I feel I will revisit my favorites, particularly La femme d'argent, All I Need, Kelly Watch the Stars, Remember, and Le voyage de Pénélope. Great code writing music for me.
Dope album! If they had partial stars this would be short of five but feeling generous.