Advertisement

News

Floating on AIR at VFestival Sydney

One of the great things about V Festivals that set them apart from other music festivals is the careful selection and scheduling of artists. It's not a mish-mash lucky dip of bands, and there's a good balance between established artists and artists about to break. And you're less likely to face the heartbreaking choice of seeing one awesome band over another.

But I was torn... do I see French electro duo AIR or London rockers The Rakes? However, thanks to a timetable glitch, I no longer had to try to be in two places at once â“ which would have not only been painful, but pretty horrid for others to witness. So anyway, I happened to catch AIR and I'm so very glad I did.

Before I go any further, I need to let you know that this blog doesn't focus on songs themselves. AIR create such a harmonious and beautiful atmosphere that it would be a shame just to focus on what tracks they played... it's all about the mood. In my humble opinion anyway.

AIR is an acronym for Amour, Imagination, Rêve - meaning Love, Imagination, Dream. A more perfect description of their music would be impossible to find. AIR transport me to a lazy Sunday afternoon, lying in the sun, coming down from a massive weekend. I'm totally relaxed...pretty good considering it was Saturday afternoon, I'm wide awake, and had just seen The Rakes.

No other artist has this sound, I don't believe. AIR are utterly unique, groundbreaking. They remind me a little of Pink Floyd, except way more chilled-out. With the voice of a boy angel but the face of a rogue, Nicolas Godin almost has a hypnotic power over the crowd. Keyboard magic comes from underneath Jean-Benoît Dunckel's fingertips.

People sway, hold each other, listen intently, eyes closed. AIR are a bit too chilled for some punters so they take their big eyes over to the Virgin Mobile Venue for electro house goodness.

Towards the end of AIR's set, I tear myself away to grab a beer before heading over to see Queens of the Stone Age. The organisation of the V Festival is such that you don't have to miss whole acts just to get a beverage â“ in, out, drink, you're done! Nice...

Back to AIR...in a word: beautiful.

And if you want to compare music to sex (and who doesn't), then AIR are the post-shag entanglement in bed. Followed by a cigarette.

For more AIR photos like this one check out The Untrained Eye's Flickr photostream...

Recommendations

Deal Of The Day

DEAL OF THE DAY - Finish this heart-racing challenge victorious and you could win a prize with Virgin Experience Days...


Immortals on Virgin.com
www.virgin.com
Join the Immortals and test your skills! Immortals on Blu-ray and DVD 5th March.
Good deal? Leave us a comment on Facebook.

This site is an open forum for users to post content so, although we hope users will behave appropriately, we can't take responsibility for what they post and we have to state that user content is not the view of Virgin.com or any Virgin company. If you object to any content, please let us know straight away at our contact us page. If you are posting content, please make sure you comply with our terms and conditions to avoid causing offence or harm to other users or to Virgin. Please also read our community guidelines. Thanks!