Air are, of course, one of the better bands to come around in the past 20 years. They blessed us with 3 albums full of some the best synth work ever recorded (I don’t particularly care for most of their latter day work). My favorite album is a collection of singles released between 1995 and 1997 entitled Premiers Symptômes. Words can’t describe this, so just have a listen. I am sure most of you have heard this album, but it’s so good I thought it warranted a post even 11 years after the fact. And the album cover is so amazing, it should get a post all to itself
UPDATE: I didn’t know but there’s a video for the song too. And so continues the French obsession with late 80’s American youth culture. Via Jon.
I’ve always enjoyed the French House scene and Alan Braxe is a master of his style. something about his production always sounds so authentic; this could either be an alternate version theme for a Miami-based 80’s detective drama or the greatest song ever. Gotta love the Testarossa-esque guitar-car too.
This single was also included on Upper Cuts, a great compilation of essential Braxe tracks.
Alan Braxe & Fred Falke – Rubicon (Original Version)
A friend turned me on to this album a while back and I’ve been getting into again lately. In this age of image-less MP3 downloads it’s easy to forget that’s there’s probably some great cover art behind the music you’re currently enjoying. Somehow I never noticed this cover until last week and I must say I really like it. I wish the lower portion was a little less busy, but overall it’s a great take on that 60’s jazz record vibe. And of course the music isn’t half bad either.
Stereogum asked me to design a cover for their latest tribute compilation. Entitled Enjoyed: A Tribute to Bjork’s Post, the collection features covers by the likes of Dirty Projectors, Xiu Xiu, and Atlas Sound to name a few. You may remember the post about Drive XV, the REM tribute, this is the follow up to that release.
In the spirit of the tribute album, they asked that I base my cover off the original. I really enjoy this sort of work as it’s a lot of fun to approach an existing composition and try to see it from another perspective.
Below is a taste of what’s in store. Check it out then download the full album for free from Stereogum!
Thanks to my parents and their friends I grew up on bands like Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, et al. and if asked my favorite band of all time now I think I would still have to say Led Zeppelin (after a long internal debate between them and the latter-day Beatles). Of all Zeppelin’s albums I always enjoyed 1973’s Houses of the Holy most. I really love all of their album covers; the imagery they employed is so organic and transcendent. I have an original copy of Led Zeppelin III with the 2 piece cover and rotating artwork, I’ll post that one soon.
Worry Wort from Radiohead’s Knives Out ep. One of those amazing songs that somehow slipped through the cracks. Great synth work on here. That cover on the other hand….not so good.
