At the time, Air's 'Moon Safari' changed everything in 1998.
It was really the first 'Lounge' breakthrough Album from the French Versailles duo debut - Nicolas Godin and Jean Dunckel - and from a country not terribly well known for its modern trippy music. More Charles Aznavour.
The style was duplicated so many times, including to a point, by Daft Punk, but it's the typical sound of say a 'Cafe Del Mar' Ibiza chillout Album thing, that deluged the planet. The 'Buddha Bar' collection etc. etc.
It was the same year as Massive 'Mezzanine', Norman Cook 'You've come a long way baby', Mercury Rev 'Deserters Song' so you get the scene.
(Indeed, the unforgettable Garth Brooks Double Live Album came out then too, which no doubt you treasure.)
This was Electronica and 'robot pop' in a world of 'Dance' albums and sampling, but Air were inspired by Pink Floyd and you can hear that on the record.
Recorded in Paris and the Strings were recorded at Abbey Road.
It's jazzy, techno pop, but hypnotically very laid back and probably, romantic in a very French way. If any of that makes sense. It's an Album to chill too in other words and sometimes therefore, criticised as 'wallpaper' by the lads.
The Streamabout girls liked it because they could concentrate whilst working ("instead of that rock stuff you play!"). Yep, Phil Collins come to mind....see what I mean?
At the time, there's no doubt it became a feature of every cool coffee house and restaurant. Starbucks would have played it, we're sure of that. You couldn't get a skinny mocha lata latte, without it playing as you paid.
The Band never really did much after this but there again, are probably still living on the royalties of what was, a worldwide smash.
The best known tracks are 'Sexy Boy', 'Kelly watch the stars' and the excellent 'All I need'. It's definitely one to consider and like a lot of 'classics', it's of a time.
Little doubt though, that it was genius and still is.
Fire it up below and you'll know quickly after it starts.
Previous "listen to's" you'll also find on this blog (you can search them in the Search top left on the Blog)......Talking Heads 'Stop Making Sense'; Lynyrd Skynyrd 'One for the road'; Marvin Gaye 'Whats Goin on'; Mercury Rev 'Deserters Songs'; Dave Matthews 'Crash'; Beyonce 'Lemonade'; Prince 'Sign O the times'; Daft Punk 'Random Access Memories'; Amy Winehouse 'Back to Black';Police 'Outlandos D'Amour'; Michael Jackson 'Off the Wall'; Carole King 'Tapestry'; Beatles 'Red Album'; Sex Pistols 'Never mind the Bollocks'; Sam Cooke 'Live at Harlem Square'; The Doors 'LA Woman'; Thin Lizzy 'Live & Dangerous'; Kendrick Lamarr 'Butterfly'; Aretha Franklin 'Amazing Grace'; Clapton '461'; Massive Attack 'Blue Lines'; The Clash 'London Calling'; Chris Isaak 'At The Filmore'; Bob Dylan 'Street Legal'; Bad Company 'Straight Shooter'; Jackson Browne 'Love is Strange'; Lou Reed 'Transformer'; Steely Dan 'AJA'; Stones 'Black+Blue'; Stephen Bishop 'Careless'; Nils Lofgren 'Night after Night'; Mike Oldfield 'Tubular Bells'; Neil Young 'Harvest'; Led Zep '4'; David Bowie 'David Live'; Van Morrison 'It's too late to stop now'; Wings 'Band on the Run'; Rod Stewart 'Atlantic Crossing'; Ryan Adams 'Heartbreaker'; Santana 'Essential'; Bob Dylan 'Desire'; Roxy Music 'For your pleasure'; Bob Marley 'Legend'; Stephen Fretwell 'Magpie'; James Taylor 'Sweet Baby James'; Deep Purple 'Machine Head'; Springsteen 'Darkness on the edge of town'; Leon Bridges 'Coming Home'; Eagles 'Hotel California'; Jungle; Aretha 'Soul Queen'; Neil Young 'After the Goldrush' ; Zappa 'Overnite Sensation'; Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours'; Keith Jarrett 'Koln Concert'; Doobies 'Southbound'; Stevie Earle 'I feel Alright'; Tom Waits 'Closing Time'; Pink Floyd 'Dark Side'; Van Morrison 'Moondance'; Eric Church 'Caught in the Act'; Randy Newman 'Little Criminals'; Elton John 'Madman across the water'; Patti Smith 'Horses'; Doobies 'Captain and Me'; Steely Dan 'Can't Buy a Thrill'.
