Air: Premiers Symptomes (Virgin)
Hold your horses. This is not the follow-up to Moon Safari, but a re-release of Nicolas Godin and JeanBenoit Dunckel's early singles for French label, Source. A timely reminder of just why Air still exert an influence, even during a sabbatical year. Their fusion of chic beats, louche grooves and a certain artful ambience is hard to match, as the glut of acts who have been attempting alternative Air supplies in their absence has proven. Premiers Symptomes has moods and Moogs in equal measure, each track gliding to a gently luxurious high. Casanova 70 and Le Soleil Est Pres De Moi stand tall here, but really it's an album for the space that surrounds you. Until their soundtrack for Sofia Copolla's The Virgin Suicides is released, we're sticking with this.
Jim Carroll