Album Reviews

Air - Le Voyage Dans La Lune

French duo, Air, proves time and time again that they are in their element when in outer space.  Their latest album Le Voyage Dans La Lune (A Trip to the Moon) was composed for and named after a classic black and white, silent film.  It was directed by Georges Méliès in 1902 and is said to be a significant piece in film history.  It was groundbreaking, the first science fiction movie.

Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel (Air) were asked to create a modern score for the film.  It was originally drawn in black and white, and in color.  The original color drawings were considered lost until 1993 when they were found in Barcelona.  Restoration work took about a year and was finally shown at Cannes Film Festival in 2011.

The Duo has had practice writing music for soundtracks, such as “The Virgin Suicides.”  Air said they watched this movie all day long for close to a month, becoming familiar with characters and their movements so they could produce new age music that was still retro and fitting to a film made in 1902.

After feeling motivated by their soundtrack, the two continued with their opus for the film and created a full-length album Le Voyage Dans La Lune, lets the mind wonder to what music may have sounded like for the time period in which it is intended to fit.

Dunckel told NPR that the group makes psycho-acoustic music, ambience, which is why their music works so well for voyages.  He couldn’t have said it better. 

“Seven Stars,” features Beach House vocalist Victoria Legrand.  Her voice adds haunting eerie tones that provide a beautiful contribution.  Au Revior Simone also bestows their ethereal whisper on the track “ Who Am I Now.”  Most of the lyrics in these two songs are sung in French.

“Parade” is amusing and upbeat.  It shifts several times through out the two and a half minutes, but never stops being enjoyable and downright danceable.

This record is predominantly instrumental.  Nicolas Godin of Air also told NPR they used a mellotron for sound effects, the mellotron can be compared to an older version of the synthesizer.  They also used Timpanis or kettledrums to create a more dated sound on the drums.  

The album will be released in the U.S. and Canada on February 6.  The release is lively and a bit complicated at times, but you don’t need the visuals to enjoy it.   La Voyage Dans La Lune comes as a CD/DVD combo, including the 16-minute film, in which the album was made for.  

Click to Share

Post Comments