Track Listing

1. Modular Mix
2. Casanova 70
3. Les Professionnels
4. J'ai Dormi Sous L'eau
5. Le Soleil Est Pres De Moi
6. Californie
7. Gordini Mix

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7003 in Music
• Released on: 1999-09-06
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Symptomes of air
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 Près 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.

Great compilation
This album is a great compilation of the bands first few E.P`s on the Source label. The band have never really managed to better these instrumental tracks- the production is spot on. Moon Safari may have taken them into the pop mainstream, but the pureness of their sound did suffer.

A must buy album for music lovers.

If you don't own 'Moon Safari' do not buy this yet
This album is like an extension of the near-perfect 'Moon Safari'. When you listen to it you recognise aspects from Air's best album. This is not as good, and it is a bit short to be called an album. The calming atmosphere created by the first five tracks is destroyed by the sixth track when playing it right through. 'Modular Mix' is a great opening track and it is Air so its obviously a lot better than most albums out there but I rarely listen to this unless im going through an Air phase.