Track Listing

1. Modular Mix
2. Casanova 70
3. Les Professionnels
4. J'ai Dormi Sous L'Eau
5. Le Soleil Est Pres De Moi
6. Californie
7. Brakes On

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9564 in Music
• Released on: 1999-09-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
1999 reissue of this 1997 collection of early singles now features two previously unreleased bonus tracks ('Californie' and 'Brakes On') for a total of seven cuts.

Amazon.com
Air's European-label five-song EP, Premiers Symptomes, may have been a collection of early singles, but when it first came out in 1997 it felt all of a piece. Deploying an array of vintage mid-century instruments (Fender Rhodes, Minimoog, Clavinet), as well as a tuba, Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel created a cloistered, lulling sound world that was entirely their own (although, think The Percy Faith Orchestra Covers Brian Eno's Music for Airports and you get the basic idea). By contrast, the recent rerelease of Premiers, with two bonus tracks, sounds like exactly what it is: a collection of early singles. It's not that newcomers "Californie" and "Brakes On" are unworthy, just that their overt funk shatters the tranquil atmosphere this French duo so painstakingly establish elsewhere. Most electronica fans are usually more than happy to bump 'n' grind, but when they're in the mood to play Premiers Symptomes, all they want--all they need--is the Air that they breathe. --Jeff Salamon

Customer Reviews

Premiere the "Symptomes"
Since "Premiers Symptomes" means "first symptoms," it's appropriate that it's the name of Air's collection of early singles. This French duo created a warm sweep of electronica that sounded like a complete , which is only marred by two funky, rather awkward songs pasted on to the end.

"Modular Mix" kicks it off -- a dreamy song that sounds like the soundtrack for an underwater movie. "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.

The rerelease of "Premiers Symptomes" was given a bonus -- two new tracks, "Californie" and "Brakes On." Well, they're a mixed blessing. They're actually very fun songs -- funky, dancey and "Californie" has a stretch of ethereal electronica halfway after about a minute. But they just don't quite mesh with the early work.

"Premiers Symptomes" was compiled of singles released before the hit "Moon Safari," and so it has something of the same dreamy feeling. It's only a half hour long, 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, while the spacey beats of "Les Professionals" sounds like a rainy morning near an alien city. Beside all these smooth sounds, the brash, bass-heavy extra songs sound harsh to the ear.

"Premiers Symptomes" is a must-have for Air fans (newbies had better start with something else), although the last two tracks aren't quite in sync with the first five. A beautiful experience, smooth and soft and sensual.

Early Air is good Air
After having purchased "Moon Safari" and grown to love the sound, I picked this up in a search for more Air music. I was impressed. The original singles as a whole are at least as good as most of "Moon Safari", and "Le Soleil Est Pres De Moi" is almost as sublime as "Ce Matin La". The rest of it is wonderful, too, especially "Casanova 70" and "Les Professionnels". Unfortunately, the closing two tracks ("Californie" and "Brakes On") destroy the mood of the album. They're simply too jarring and lack any of the charm of the downtempo material. This alone is a one-star deduction for ruining the end of a great EP. But there's still 5 great songs, so it's worth picking up if "Moon Safari" isn't enough Air for you.

This album should be played in all Dutch Coffee Shops!
Very smooth and tranquil textures that embrace your mind right away! Almost brainwashing you to sit down and enjoy a glass of wine and a nice smoke while sitting in your recliner or having a delicate moment with that special someone. This is a must have for those who love the experimental genres of music from all over the world.