Premiers Symptomes - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

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

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.

Album Details
Japanese Version of the French Duo's Debut EP featuring Two Bonus Remixes of 'le Soleil Est Pres De Moi': Money Mark Remix, and Buffalo Daughter Remix.

Customer Reviews: Read 59 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Early Air is good Air October 31, 2000
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

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.

5 out of 5 stars

This album should be played in all Dutch Coffee Shops! November 9, 1999
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

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.

5 out of 5 stars

dreamy,trippy, beatiful another great piece by AIR November 27, 1999
6 out of 9 found this review helpful

The re-issue of Early singles and 2 new tracks make "Premers Symptomes" a real treat. You can tell that its beginning work but that doesnt mean its bad. Its a dreamy beatifuly crafted trip that is something missing in "electronic" music(Sorry im not PC) these days when most DJs have to overdue sounds with hard hitting beats and Voice samples. AIR make music as musicians not DJs. "Premiers Symptomes" begins the evoultion of AIR to their debut album "Moon Safari". Giving hints as what was to come of AIR. You can almost hear "All I need" in "les Professionnels". AIR takes us on a trip everytime which I can only describe as a 'Moon safari'. You can enjoy Air weather your partying or laying down after a hard day. Air haven't sold out to big trends in the "Techno" music world and I hope they keep making more great albums and singles. I can't get enough. They almost make me want to take french and buy a keyboard and a sampler.

4 out of 5 stars

Premiere the "Symptomes" October 10, 2004
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

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 Pres 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.

4 out of 5 stars

very nice September 30, 1999
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I, as well, have been waiting a VERY long time for this one, and I had a hard time harassing my local record stores to get it in! Definately more "background music" than even Moon Safari, the first two tracks are nice calm instrumentals, followed by "Les Professionels", which I was delightfully surprised to disover its chord progression to be an early version of "All I Need". Track 4 begins with a beautifully done keyboard part which eventually probably grows too heavy and would serve better as a slower, more mellow song. Beautiful nonetheless. "Le Soleil..." is simply a throwaway that sounds very primitive compared to their deeper masterpieces like "Kelly Watch the Stars" and "Remember". And "Californie" is Air at thier funkiest and prettiest, with a cool jam intro which leads into a breathtakingly beautiful piano section, with the sound of the ocean as an overwhelmingly grand soundscape. Definately one to lay back and close your eyes to. I only wish the outro went on longer. Check out the enhanced version with a cool tour documentary, as well as the vinyl version which has cool packaging as well. All in all, if you like music, Air will blow your mind- My favorite band, the most unique and original artists in music today. STANDOUT TRACKS: "Californie", "J'ai Dormi Sous L'eau". ----Sam's Myth [ApclpseBoy@aol.com]

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