Air - Le Voyage Dans La Lune (Deluxe Edition) CD

French electronica duo Air have a career which in many ways mirrors their more widely known contemporaries Daftpunk. Both band's debut albums,  Air's "Premiers Symptômes" and Daft Punk's "Homework", both released in 1997, and both posses an unceasing commitment to innovation and reinvention. With that in mind, both groups have enjoyed widespread critical acclaim.

"Le Voyage Dans La Lune" began as a project undertaken by the pair to produce a soundtrack for a rare hand coloured version of the 1902 film of the same name, directed by George Méliè. The film was a truly landmark moment in the history of early cinema, which pioneered the sci-fi genre and boasted many cutting edge special effects. As a result, it was a tremendous success and could be arguably called the first true "blockbuster" enjoying popularity in both Europe and the United States.

However, it was soon found that these recording sessions were so productive that, rather than settling for a 17 minute long recording for the film alone, they decided to turn it into a full blown LP length recording, something which in itself speaks for the underlying quality of the album. Sonically the album is probably Air's most eccentric with the group embracing the same experimental ethos as that of the pioneering film makers of the 1900's like Méliès.

Also included as part of this deluxe edition is a DVD containing the restored colour film of "Le Voyage Dans Le Lune" which, outside of the film festival circuit, is the only place it is available, making it an essential purchase for fans of early cinema! (Adam Bibby)