The duo mark a milestone with intimate takes on early classics.
Photo credit: Mathieu Rainaud
Air brought their signature blend of melancholic elegance and retro-futuristic sound to NPR’s Tiny Desk for a special performance revisiting their early catalog. The session offered a nostalgic reflection on some of the French duo’s most iconic works.
Surrounded by analog synths and minimal lighting, Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel opened with ‘Le Voyage de Pénélope’, the cinematic closer from their 1998 debut album ‘Moon Safari’. Performed live with piano and synthesizers, the track’s dreamy textures set the tone for the stripped-back set.
The performance continued with ‘Cherry Blossom Girl’ from 2004’s ‘Talkie Walkie’, reimagined with acoustic guitar, Rhodes, and close harmonies that added new intimacy to its romantic melancholy. Reflecting on their contribution to Sofia Coppola’s ‘The Virgin Suicides’, the duo revisited ‘Highschool Lover’ and ‘Dirty Trip’, invoking a shared sense of memory that extended beyond the screen.
Originally released 25 years ago, Air’s soundtrack to ‘The Virgin Suicides’ remains a reference point for emotional electronic scoring.
Watch Air’s Tiny Desk performance below.
