23 years on from Air – Moon Safari arrived and I’m still surprised by how many people are unaware of this French electronic band. Their popularity over the past two decades continues to grow, year on year and Moon Safari continues to be a consistent worldwide seller for these guys, and rightly so.
If you asked me to compare Air to another act for descriptive purposes, I would struggle as their sound is very unique, like an almost cheesy cool if such a thing exists.
I remember first getting a few first edition vinyl copies of this album into stock back in my old shop Mixmaster Records when it came out in 1998. My colleagues Roddy, Gavin and myself were very taken by the freshness of the music and how it just sounded like nothing else out there at the time. I recall it being on shop rotation a LOT in the early days, when we got a moment of calm, between a hundred banging techno or trance releases of the week.
Moon Safari is a stone cold, genre creating classic in my eyes, an album that crafted its own unique sound unlike anything that had come before. Call it retro futurism, electro pop-ambient, coffee table lounge music, whatever your choice this masterpiece has stood the test of time now for over 20 years. Combine their blend of futuristic synths, funky Fender Rhodes hooks with the stunning vocals of Beth Hirsch and its just an all out winner in my eyes.
I was blessed to see them when they made their only Belfast appearance a few years ago and was just awestruck the entire show.
I still own this personally on vinyl and CD and still play both. This album is truly a fun, uplifting masterpiece. For anyone who may not have checked out these guys, i urge you to grab a nice glass of Rioja (or a Stella will do) and sit back and binge a few of their amazing albums.