In 1902, Georges Mélièsâ classic sci-fi silent film A Trip to the Moon was released. A mere 110 years later, as a fully restored version of A Trip to the Moon appears at film festivals worldwide, French electronica duo Air have produced a re-imagined score for the film, and in doing so have created an ambient pop near-masterpiece â Le Voyage Dans La Lune. The music of Air, comprised of Jean-Benoit Dunckel and Nicolas Godin, is most easily and accurately described as electronica, but that doesnât mean it will appeal to fans of techno and dubstep. Rather, Air aims to create an atmospheric musical experience, incorporating several elements of other styles to build unique layers of sound. One integral part of Airâs identity is that their songs often include instruments not usually found in electronic music. While the music is still heavily synthesizer based, the typical drum-machine beats are generally forsaken in favor of live drums, making songs like âSeven Starsâ and âSonic Armadaâ more organic and atmospheric. Meanwhile, symphonic percussion graces âAstronomic Clubâ and âDecollage,â piano peppers âCosmic Trip,â and even banjo shows up on âLava.â The guitar makes a surprising mark here, with sharp riffs on âParadeâ and distorted bends on âLava.â With non-electronic influences including Pink Floyd and Tangerine Dream, itâs no surprise that Air accomplishes atmosphere through more than just dreamy keyboards. The voice samples on âSeven Starsâ and âCosmic Tripâ add variety to the music while obviating any monotony that might have existed here, and the Depeche Mode-esque textures on âParadeâ counteract the slower musical parts. Moods range from the upbeat (âSonic Armadaâ) to the frenzied (âLavaâ) and the dark and eerie (see the creeping guitar-vibraphone lines on âWho Am I Now?â), providing for a dynamic and sonically engaging record. In another electronica rarity, about half of the songs on Le Voyage Dans La Lune also include vocals. Dunckel contributes brief, ambient vocals to âParade,â âCosmic Trip,â and âLava,â while dream pop group Au Revoir Simone shine on âWho Am I Now?â and guest vocalist Victoria Legrand of Beach House lends her pipes to âSeven Stars.â While Airâs atmospheric blend of electronica and ambient pop may not appeal to everyone, theyâve done something with Le Voyage Dans La Lune that should at least be tried by everyone and appreciated by most listeners. If it counts, go ahead and give this film score of the year, because itâll be hard to beat. Overall rating: 9/10 Jack H. Evans is the entertainment editor for The Bark. Follow The Bark on Twitter @BeardenBARK, and like The Bark (Bearden High School) on Facebook.