Customer Reviews

Premiers Symptomes - The Singles

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If I could own only one C.D. this is what I would choose. I lost my first copy and I almost cried. Everyone should hear this wonderful music at least once.

This is one of the 2 best albums I own. Wanna know what the other one is? "Moon Safari". In a world of music that is absolute bland and emotionless trash, at least we have two French guys packing a few moogs, a rhodes, and a heck of a lot of vocorder action blowing the compotion away.They have inspired me ever so much in my own music.Anyone with ANY taste in music WHATSOEVER will like these 2 musicians as much as i do.

Since "Premiers Symptomes" means "first symptoms," it's appropriate that it's the name of Air's collection of early singles, before they hit the big time with "Moon Safari." In this EP, the French duo created a warm, sensual sweep of electronica, lounge and pop music.

"Modular Mix" kicks it off -- a dreamy song that sounds like the soundtrack for an underwater movie. It's a beautiful, smooth, self-assured sound. On the other hand, we get a different vibe after that: "Casanova 70" and the languid "Les Professionals" add a lounge-y sound. And "J'Ai Dormi Sous L'Eau" and "Le Soleil Est Près de Moi" are sweet and slow , almost like a pair of trip-hop lullabies.

"Premiers Symptomes" was compiled of singles released before the hit "Moon Safari," and so it has something of the same dreamy feeling. It's all too short an EP, but it's worth it to get the the romantic blend of ambient, trip-hop, funk and a hint of 60s psychedelic pop -- in a word, sensual chillout music.

Songs like "Modular Mix" have layers upon layers of shimmering keyboard. But "Casanova 70" and "J'ai Dormi Sous L'Eau" favor a more jazzy sound, with synthesized horns behind some twittery synths. On the other hand, the spacey beats of "Les Professionals" sounds like a rainy morning over an alien city. Here we get a good look at all of Air's musical abilities, and the different sounds they would later experiment with in their full-length albums.

"Premiers Symptomes" is a must-have for Air fans, although newbies had better start with something else. Despite the earliness of this work, it's obvious that Air already knew what they were doing.

The effervescent horns in Modular Mix, the floating melodies in Casanova 70, the analogue action in Les Professionels, the sitar and Moog arrangements in J'ai dormi sous l'eau, and the romantic tubas (yes, romantic tubas!) in Le soleil est pres de moi prove that Air does not only have a classic album of our time, "Moon Safari", but that their musical journey before it is a perfect one itself!

This is a compilation of their first singles, just a few songs, but an extraordinary experience! They are working in a castle south of Paris, just imagine! Simply beautiful and one of the best discs available in this galaxy! Get it!

RIK

If you like Air, this is a must. One of the best singles I had ever bought. The sounds are eclectic and interesting. This is a great example of just how talented Air is. A definite must have!

I don't know why I'm the first to review this, but its a great CD, totally trippy and melow. If you want to be transported, this is the CD.

their first singles...some music arstists would be happy if they could reach this perfection after 4 or 5 major label recordings, thats for sure !