Air Mixes Lounge, Electronica into a Moody Movie Score

Since the French duo Air released its critically lauded debut album, “Moon Safari,” it has become part of the trend in alternative pop that seeks to combine the kitsch affectations of lounge with the misterioso moods of electronica.

Air’s retro recipe of soothing, lilting and slightly tongue-in-cheek keyboard-generated instrumentals was on display Saturday at the Hollywood American Legion Hall, where the duo, augmented by four instrumentalists and a singer, presented its latest creation: the score to the upcoming film “The Virgin Suicides.”

These austere soundscapes oscillated between the mournful and the nostalgic, while maintaining the sweet analog effects that make the group’s style so easily identifiable. Although the 12 themes (and one breathy title song) don’t match the freshness and inspiration of “Moon Safari,” they do constitute memorable movie music.

So it was a little strange seeing the capacity crowd going gaga over a style that has been practiced to death by countless other composers, from Vangelis and Klaus Schulze to Henry Mancini--not exactly the kind of people you encounter in hip Top 10 lists.

When Air returned for encores, the material from “Moon Safari” was received with a roar of approval. The shimmering textures of the album were faithfully reproduced, and the trance-inducing “Talisman” sounded like a lighter version of Pink Floyd at its best.