“Le Voyage Dans La Lune” is not only the title of Air’s new album but also that of Georges Méliès’ classic from 1902. Coincidence? Nope. There was a colorized version of the film which everybody thought lost until a copy was found in 1993. After having been meticulously restored, the film was shown at the Cannes film festival last year and to celebrate the whole thing, the dudes from Air were asked to write a new score for the occasion.
Air isn’t exactly new to soundtracks. They previously contributed a song to “Lost In Translation” and went all the way for “The Virgin Suicides”, both of them dreamy films that suited their music perfectly. So I was kinda curious to hear what they’d come up with for a 110-year-old sci-fi classic.
Well, during its best moments the new soundtrack is vintage Air and a real treat to listen to. Check out “Lava” with its melancholic piano or the collaboration between the French elektropoppers and Beach House’s “Seven Stars” and fall in love with Air all over again.
A couple of times though they drift off to the level of elevator music… “Sonic Armada” is a fine example of the latter. It’s a shame. It never becomes truly dull or boring but sometimes this album just seems to trickle along for the sake of it. The original film only lasts 15 minutes and I’m thinking they’d have been better off trimming the soundtrack down to the same length, which would’ve made it irresistibly charming.
Score : 7 out of 10
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