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.

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.