AIR played the iconic Moon Safari album integrally last May at the Royal Albert Hall: here is the live performance and a look at the synth setup.
The French synth-pop duo AIR has been touring Europe and Australia since the beginning of the year, initially in halls and opera houses and in the summer in open-air locations. Each evening, the iconic Moon Safari album from 1998 is featured with a small best-of selection from various other albums – setlist.
On May 31st, 2024, the start of the summer season, AIR stopped at the legendary Royal Albert Hall in London to celebrate the Moon Safari album. The TV channel ARTE recorded and published the entire 1h30 concert for its Concert series on YouTube.
AIR Moon Safari Synth Setup
When the French synth-pop duo hits a city, synth enthusiasts are not far away. So, we look at AIR’s synth setup on the Moon Safari Tour.
On both tours in 2024 (winter/summer), the synth setup was minimal compared to the previous performances. There were plenty of vintage synths in the past (Moog Source, Solina String Ensemble, Roland SH-101, etc.), but this tour was more modern and simple.
This was also because the band only consisted of three people this year.
Jean-Benoît Dunckel (JB Dunckel) used a Fender Rhodes Mark I stage piano 73, on which stood a Moog Sirin played with an Arturia Keystep Pro MIDI controller.
On the other side was a white stage piano. I’m unsure which one it was; it could be a Fender Rhodes Mark II or Wurlitzer 200A. On it was a white Korg MS-20 FS, which always shines at “La Femme D’argent.”
Right next to it was an Arturia MiniLab Mk3 MIDI keyboard. The cable went into a black box, but it was unclear which device JB Dunckel played. In the past, he had the Roland MKS-70 synth in his rack.
More Moog Mono Synths
In the middle was the home of live drummer Louis Delorme. In addition to the drums, he played a few synth lines on a Moog Minitaur/Sirin with an Arturia MiniLab MKIII keyboard on some songs.
On the right was Nicolas Godin, who played bass, guitar, and synths again. His AIR Moon Safari tour synth setup included a stage e-piano (Fender Rhodes or Wurli), a black Korg MS-20 analog Synthesizer, and a vintage RE-501 Chorus Echo. In another video, this can be seen in the setup.
Next to it was a Komplete Kontrol S25 MKI keyboard (recognizable by the LEDs) and a Moog Minitaur/Sirin. It was impossible to tell whether other sounds were played with the MIDI controller. Nor whether there were rack devices.
All in all, a straightforward live synth setup. Anyone looking forward to a wagon full of vintage synths was a bit disappointed. AIR took the more convenient route for the synth setup for the Moon Safari tour.
I can only warmly recommend the recorded concert from the Royal Albert Hall. Even though it was a bit short, at one hour and a half, the performance was fabulous musically and visually.
Good news for all non-EU readers: AIR will tour the USA, Canada, and Mexico from September to November 2024 with the Moon Safari album.
More information here: AIR
Synths are available at my partner.
Thomann
I performed alongside them at Vivid festival this year, and I asked Nicolas how the setup worked and he said they’re triggering a whole heap of synths that are hooked up out the back or to the side of the stage. Whether that was true or not I’m not sure. But also plausible!
The Wurly makes a great Grand Piano Sound! 😀 I suspect it to be a Nord Stage in a custom (electric piano looking) case. Just for the vintage looks.
I don’t even need to click the video; I can already hear La Femme D’argent playing in my head…
Excellent. Thanks Synth Anatomy.