AIR - Pocket Sympathy LP / Tour
With the origins of their sound owing to the synthesizer music of the 1970s such as Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis and Francis Lai coupled with the likes of Pink Floyd, and Tangerine Dream, French music duo Air are due to release Pocket Symphony on March 5th.The album is said to feature former Pulp vocalist Jarvis Cocker, Neil Hannon (Divine Comedy) and be produced by Nigel Godrich.
Their press release states that ‘Air once again achieve that rare supernova of artistic vision that dares to reconcile palpable, unapologetic ambience with unpretentious soulful simplicity. They create the alternate now, an environment that begs escapism without denying humanity.’
Air have often collaborated with American film director Sofia Coppola. They composed the music to her debut film The Virgin Suicides and have made prominent contributions to her later films Lost in Translation and Marie Antoinette. They also made cameo appearances in the latter film.
Air use many of their studio instruments (like Moog synthesizers, the Korg MS-20, Wurlitzer and Vocoder) live on stage, where their ability to improvise is more clearly highlighted. The band performs the well-known tracks from the albums live as extended or altered versions. Air often works together, both in the studio and live on stage, with artists like Beth Hirsch (Moon Safari), Françoise Hardy (”Jeanne”), Jean-Jacques Perrey (”Cosmic Bird”), Gordon Tracks (”Playground Love” and “Easy Going Woman”), Beck (10,000Hz Legend) and, on the 2004 tour, with Dave Palmer and drummer Earl Harvin.
You can find out more and hear some of the new material at:
http://www.pocket-symphony.com/
Air play Manchester Academy 1 on Thursday 15th March 2007