In rotation: AIR's 'Le Voyage Dans la Lune'

In rotation: AIR’s ‘Le Voyage Dans la Lune’

By Todd MartensFeatures Columnist

Feb. 3, 2012 12:56 PM PT

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In rotation: AIR’s ‘Le Voyage Dans la Lune.’ A series in Sunday Calendar about what Times writers & contributors are listening to right now...

With Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” and now AIR’s release of its score to “Le Voyage Dans la Lune” (A Trip to the Moon), this winter has given the world two loving tributes to the work of French filmmaker Georges Méliès. Each approach the cinema pioneer and his work with wonderment, and the expanded edition of this album comes complete with a DVD of the recent restoration to “Le Voyage Dans la Lune.”

Watching the film with AIR’s accompanying music is a delight. The spacey French duo of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel have crafted a score that’s equally vintage and fresh, be it the toyish rhythms and alien effects of “Astronomic Club” or the intergalactic doodles of the celebratory “Parade.” By the time the duo gets to the cosmic funk of “Sonic Armada,” it’s impossible to discern whether AIR is playing with guitars, synths or lasers. The music, like the film, feels as if it’s conjured from a dream.

AIR
Le Voyage Dans la Lune
(Astralwerks)

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—Todd Martens

Nicolas Godin, left, and Jean-Benoit Dunckel of the band AIR. Credit: EMI

Pop & Hiss

Todd Martens

Todd Martens is a features columnist at the Los Angeles Times who writes about theme parks and West Coast Experiences, among other topics. Martens joined the Los Angeles Times in 2007 and has covered a mix of interactive entertainment as its game critic and pop music as a reporter and editor. Previously, he reported on the music business for Billboard Magazine. Martens has contributed to numerous books, including “The Big Lebowski: An Illustrated, Annotated History of the Greatest Cult Film of All Time.” He continues to torture himself by rooting for the Chicago Cubs and, while he likes dogs, he is more of a cat person.