Premiers Symptoms
The hiatus between albums is often an excuse for record companies to recycle and repackage the most outrageous muck imaginable in the interests of exploiting an artist's marketability - particularly when the act in question has produced a twenty-four carat classic of modern times, and there's no indication of a follow-up in the foreseeable future.
Eamon Sweeney, 18 Aug 1999
The hiatus between albums is often an excuse for record companies to recycle and repackage the most outrageous muck imaginable in the interests of exploiting an artist's marketability - particularly when the act in question has produced a twenty-four carat classic of modern times, and there's no indication of a follow-up in the foreseeable future.
In other words, you can spare the baited breath and drum rolls because Air's Premiers Symptomes is the prequel rather than the sequel to - but it's a reissue to be warmly welcomed all the same.
What you get for your dollar is seven perfectly formed, minimal pop masterpieces from the Air camp, which reveal a masterful grasp of dreampop dynamics, pre-empting the swish lushness and streamlined brilliance of Moon Safari. 'Casanova 70' and 'J'ai Dormi Sous L'eau' have all the smooth sophistication of classic Air, with just a faint cheeky hint of porn-theme cheese. The heart-stopping beauty of 'Le Soleil est pres de Moi' redefines and rewrites the script for what music should be, before they up a gear with the slight funk of 'Calfornie'.
On a thrilling valedictory note, 'Gordini Mix' is a tangy fuse of driving Death in Vegas-style drone and pure pop 'ooh la la', while remaining totally, distinctly and unquestionably Air.
It's the fine art of breathing, volume one.
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