French fancies
Resolute square pegs in a musical landscape of dull, round holes, AIR have done it their way and, as Doug Johnstone discovers, it’s paid off in spades.
lot ol' bands these days seem to be the product of
committee thinking. You can just imagine a record
company and music management pow-wow. as they c\amine the results ol‘ an indie kid locus group then knock together the latest tedious White Stripes pastiche.
.\ir are not the result ol‘ committee thinking. You can imagine the meeting: 'Yeah. let‘s get two el‘l‘eminate and intellectual l’rcnch guys. no wait. listen. they‘re influenced by .lean—.\liche1 .larre. \‘angelis. 'l'angerine Dream. Serge (lainsbourg and 7()s disco. wait. wait. come back. the kids will really dig it . . .‘
Neyethcless. .’\ir are great. The music world needs more oddballs like them. A rel‘rcshing mix ol dreamy pop. gromy disco. pretentious proggy art noodling and arch (lallic l'lair. the pair have been a welcome addition to the pop scene e\ er since their debut album. .llmm Sit/Uri. slunk its way into the charts and superb single 'Sexy Boy” slid its way into our hearts back in 1998.
Nicolas (iodin and Jean—Benoit Dunckel (l‘or Air are they) both grew tip in Versailles but didn't meet up until they started studying at the same college. Spotting a similar musical outlook early on. the pair learned up and released a handliul ol' singles in l-‘rance before their worldwide breakthrough with ‘Sexy Boy".
Since then. the duo have weaved an odd path through the music world. and have shown a surprising depth and willingness to experiment. somewhat at odds with their
Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel have come a long way since ‘Sexy Boy’
sometimes superficially glossy retro-disco sound.
The band's next project was to provide the sumptuous soundtrack to the Solia (‘oppola directed film. The Virgin .S'uicidvs. and never has a movie‘s incidental music been woven so seamlessly into the narrative. From there the band produced a darker. more proggy and less poppy album. /(),()()() ll: Legend. further enhancing their reputation.
What nest‘.’ Well. what else but a collaborative album called ('in Rem/[rig with Italian literary author Alessandro Baricco. for which he reads some of his work‘ over their music. of course. lirm. right. 200-1 saw the twosome back on planet pop. though. with their third (relatively) normal album. 'Iiilkiv ll'u/kie. a slight return to the funky linear stylings ol’ their debut record.
'l’hroughout it all. the flamboyant duo have always enjoyed putting on a treat of a live show. letting their camp and icy tendencies flourish in an array of dal‘t outfits. di/xying light shows and downright silliness from start to finish.
.\'ot committee thinking then. but great thinking.
Corn Exchange, 0870 220 1116, 10 Aug, 7pm, £20.
WE
Air’s show is a celebration of Franco-Scottish relations - with Arab Strap as the other half of the shindig. Mark Robertson finds more meetings of musical minds.
Antonio Forcione and Boothby Graffoe A devastating guitarist plays straight man to a stand-up with a nice line in surreal tunesmithery guitar. Moments of mirth and musicality mix with ease. Pleasance, 556 6550. 630 Aug (not 77), 5.45pm. if 72.50— 73 (E 7 I--7 7.50). Preview 5 Aug. ‘36; Assembly, 226 2428, 27—28 Aug, 71.45pm,
L‘ 72.60.
La Clique Where acrobatics. tassle twirling. comedy and mus:c collide in a Jelly- tilled bathtub of spectacular burlesque action. Spiege/teni. 662 8740, 8—80 Aug. lip/n, E70 ($8).
La Baum A rugby scrum of influences and more instruments than the backroom of a secondhand musrc shop go together to generate an almighty Latinised. roots-Jazz.- dub‘afrofunk stramash. North Edinburgh Arts (38/109,375 2151.6 Aug, 7pm. £38 (£76); Sp/ege/tent. 662 8740, 75 Aug, 9.30pm, £70 (£8).
Scotland’s Voice Bringing together some of the finest female singers in the country including Maggie Mclnnes. Aileen Carr and Cy Laurie to celebrate the roots of the nation‘s song from an a cappella perspective. Reid Hall. 662 8740.
I 7-— I 2, 2 I--22 Aug. 7pm. L‘IO (E8).
~'- THE LIST TIVAL MAGAZINE 51