"I don't even know this band, but last night they sounded awesome. It's something special." Those were the words of the man who scanned my ticket to enter the lush Beacon Theatre before Air were set to play their definitive album plus some hits for an enthralled audience that was ready to welcome the band with open arms. For the first time since 2017, Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel are on tour and have decided to celebrate their shimmering debut by playing it in-full and accompanied by a live drum, giving it a maximal, luxurious sound that was impeccably tight and crisp. Just before the group took to the stage, the curtain rose to reveal and small, mirrored diorama containing a multitude of electronic keyboards, synthesizers, a drum set, and three electric basses set upon a reflective floor that appeared to be stunningly, shiny clean. As they entered the near-installation the lights around the box began to glow and the interior of the set illuminated with bright, brilliant lights and when the opening to "La femme d'argent" began to hum, the crowd sunk in and began to float away on this magical cosmic odyssey. The booming electronics and fuzzed-out bass groove of "Sexy Boy" was radiant and gave the lights permission to dance around them to reveal the enchanting powers of their glistening stage set up. Slowing the mirrored background gave way and revealed wizzing displays of stars, like we were in the cockpit of a spaceship traveling through hyper-drive in a far distant galaxy. Their blend of dreamy electronics, chic lounge vibes, and the retro-futuristic moods of their glitzy space-age pop was a dazzling experience and as they moved along through swirling hazes of instrumental marvels, the entire room was strapped in for the ride. Recalling the fantasy exploratory vehicles of '60s and '70s sci-fi movies, it was easy to picture the band playing in the swankiest clubs of this side of Saturn as the robotic and ultra-processed vocals added to the ultra luscious textures. The majestic swaths of synths that washed in "Remember" were transfixing and transportive as clouds of fog also filled the stage, bringing the intimacy to new heights as the band's chamber felt smaller and tighter than ever. Cracked open like the inside of a disco ball, things began to sparkle with even more intensity and the colors hit new levels of saturation which enhanced the sound to an exponential degree. After a brief retreat, the band came back to play other hits from their career with "Cherry Blossom Girl" acting as another prized gem from their catalogue and got the crowd pulled right back into the moment. When the band entered the opening progression of The Virgin Suicides' iconic theme song "Playground Love" a new microphone suddenly appeared center stage and in direct contract to Air's pristine white outfits, Phoenix lead singer Thomas Mars hopped up in a solid navy blue attire to deliver the ultra serene vocals to the haunting lullaby. Following a rapturous ovation, the band crushed things into overdrive with a surging rendition of "Don't Be Light" to bring things home in a dizzying and euphoric finish. Putting a final touch on the night, the trio returned one last time for a "Along in Kyoto" that put one last spell on the building as we made our soft decent back to reality. Hitting us with such a spellbinding performance, it was a nourishing experience that left all of those in attendance feeling refreshed and rejuvenated from an audio bath or pure stardust.
Set list:
01 "La femme d'argent"
02 "Sexy Boy"
03 "All I Need"
04 "Kelly Watch the Stars"
05 "Talisman"
06 "Remember"
07 "You Make It Easy"
08 "Ce matin‐là"
09 "New Star in the Sky (Chanson pour Solal)"
10 "Le voyage de Pénélope"
--
11 "Radian"
12 "Venus"
13 "Cherry Blossom Girl"
14 "Run"
15 "Playground Love" (with Gordon Tracks aka Thomas Mars from Phoenix)
16 "Don't Be Light"
--
17 "Alone in Kyoto"
18 "Electronic Performers"
No comments:
Post a Comment