French Space Pop icons Air Announce Exclusive Melbourne Show

A quarter of a century ago, two young French musicians embarked on a journey through the cosmos, returning to Earth armed with an album that would define a generation, soundtrack countless celluloid moments, and garner resounding critical and commercial acclaim. Releasing their debut record Moon Safari in 1998, French electronic duo Air oozed with lush electronics, swooning songcraft and lashings of irresistible European-hued retro-futurism across the album's 10 tracks, the iconic album continues to entice listeners into its kaleidoscopic wonderland to this very day.

In celebration of the 25^th anniversary since its release, Air are pleased to announce today a return down under for an exclusive Melbourne show as part of the 2024 ALWAYS LIVE 17-day celebration of live music across Victoria.  Performing the iconic Moon Safari from start to finish, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl will be immersed in this dreamy sonic feast, under the stars, for one night only on December 4.

Presented by ALWAYS LIVE and TEG MJR, tickets for Air's exclusive Melbourne performance

Fittingly for the cosmic and prismatically-crafted album that would launch Air into musical infamy, band members Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel met while at university studying astrophysics and architecture, going on to collide their musical talents to form Air in the mid-90s. Announcing themselves to the world bathed in sounds of chilled electronica and retro-futurism, their 1998 debut full-length Moon Safari became a bona fide pop culture sensation, selling millions of copies with inescapable hits like Sexy Boy, Kelly Watch the Stars and All I Need. Moon Safari's downtempo sound catapulted the album into a defining soundtrack of the era, with touches of David Bowie, Beck and Madonna, and influencing artists such as Tame Impala's Kevin Parker, Charlotte Gainsbourg and filmmaker Sofia Coppola – with whom Air would go on to collaborate with, penning music for the 1993 film The Virgin Suicides.

Moon Safari topped the year-end lists of acclaimed publications and was named one of the greatest albums of the 90s by Rolling Stone; since reflecting on their early days, Dunckel recalled their modest ambitions, "We were a duo doing some electronic thing, dreaming of selling 10,000 copies and being recognised by other musicians as cool. Then suddenly, we met the world." Now, 25 years later, the enduring appeal of Moon Safari is unmistakable. It remains a timeless mood, a sonic haven that bewitches you in a state of bliss throughout. As Dunckel describes it, the album is "a deep, universal spell, full of love and mystery," while Godin simply calls it "perfect."

Speaking on this special upcoming performance from Air in Melbourne, ALWAYS LIVE Chief Executive Officer Psyche Payne shares, "It's incredible to watch our season grow, giving even more opportunities for people to enjoy live music right here in Victoria. Adding the legendary duo AIR to our 2024 program, performing their iconic Moon Safari album in an open-air setting, is an exciting highlight in an already jam-packed 17 days of live music across the state. It's moments like these that capture the essence of what ALWAYS LIVE is all about – creating unforgettable music experiences for fans and artists alike"

Often imitated but seldom equalled, few live performances can boast the transcendental magnetism that Air possess. And 25 years on, Moon Safari has lost none of its beguiling magic; it's a mood that invites you to lose yourself in the music forever.

AIR PLAY MOON SAFARI

WED 4 DEC | SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL, MELBOURNE VIC | ALL AGES  

Tickets available Tuesday 12 November, 2024. 10am local time from Ticketek