I went to see Air on their new Pocket Symphony tour at Manchester Academy a couple of days ago and was really impressed. It was the last gig to be played at Academy before it is pulled down a rebuilt in a complete re-fit. I’m looking forward to seeing what the new venue will be like, as it’s one of my favourites for seeing live music round Manchester. It really has a personal feel and lets you get up close.

Their new album is really good, and a great addition to my collection. They played a really good mix of tracks, some from their really early stuff and some much more recent. Some of the ones which stood out from the rest were Cherry Blossom Girl, Le Femme d’Argent and the tracks off their new album which seemed to have a real energy and passion.

They weren’t quite what I expected. Firstly, I didn’t realise that the vocals were performed by one of the main artists. I thought that they had several external female vocalists and it was a surprise to hear some of the notes the guy could hit! Also, they had a serious amount of equipment - several synthesisers and keyboards, all working and layering together to create their unique sound.

I’d really recommend checking out their new album and catching them on tour if it’s the style of music you’re into!