When Air's Moon Safari was released in 1998, it really cemented the fact that some of the most exciting electronic music in the world was coming out of France. Just one year earlier, Paris outfit Daft Punk had dropped their debut album Homework, and singles such as "Around the World" exploded onto the charts. But Moon Safari was better still--a heady blend of space pop, contemporary jazz, and dream pop.
Since then, the Versaille duo has released five more studio albums plus a couple of soundtracks, and some EPs. Outside of 2016's compilation Twentyears, however, their last new release came in 2014 with Music for Museum, a commission for the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille as part of their Open Museum project.
Their show at the Hollywood Bowl was split into two sets: Moon Safari in its entirety, and then choice cuts from their other records. More special still was the fact that the music was enhanced by the brilliance of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
Truth be told, there were moments when the gentle, orchestral sounds were drowned out by what was going on literally above them. But when it did work, when the two worlds collided effectively, magic happened.
The order of events for Set 1 contained no surprises. Naturally, "La Femme D'Argent" kicked things off, the opening track on the album. Then came smash hit single "Sexy Boy," with it's cyber hook and gloriously manipulated vocal refrain. It was one of the best electronic tunes of the '90s, and it sounded incredible in Hollywood.
Other highlights from Moon Safari included "Talisman" and "New Star in the Sky," and then it was time for Set 2.
We got three songs from 2001's 10 000 HZ Legend, including an electrifying "Don't Be Light," and the closing "Electronic Performers." Four were pulled from 2004's Talkie Walkie, with the highlight being a super-sweet "Cherry Blossom Girl." Some of the more gentle moments from that record, such as "Alone in Kyoto" and "Venus," allowed the orchestra to really shine.
Additionally, two tracks were performed from Air's score for the movie The Virgin Suicides. These were a real treat and, again, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra beefed up the tunes beautifully.
That was that. An incredible performance, primarily of a 27-year-old album that doesn't sound dated at all. Still, one can only hope that we get something new from Air soon.
Photographs taken by Timothy Norris at the Hollywood Bowl, provided courtesy of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association
