AIR Man JB Dunckel Releases Debut Piano Record Paranormal Musicality

by | Jan 22, 2024

JB Dunckel, a landmark figure in electronic music in both his solo career and as part of the French duo AIR, has released Paranormal Musicality, his first recording project as a pianist and composer. For Dunckel, who signed a recording contract with major classical music label Warner Classics last year, this album marks an important moment of personal reinvention.

JB Dunckel (Pascale Arnaud)

JB Dunckel (Pascale Arnaud)
JB Dunckel (Pascale Arnaud)

Paranormal Musicality embraces free, delicate, and ambitious forms of piano improvisation. Between 2019 and 2022, Jean-Benoît Dunckel carefully arranged a set of microphones around the piano in his studio and used them to record hundreds of spontaneous free performances. The 18 instrumental pieces on the album are formed from nearly 250 melodies captured in these sessions, with each work recorded in a single, unedited take.

Filled with images of a world where nature pulses and breathes, these works reflect everything the musician has ever written and loved. Primarily, the project celebrates the piano as an instrument that has accompanied Dunckel since his childhood. He formed a particularly close connection with his piano teacher from music school and continued to learn from her throughout his electronic career until she passed away in 2003. The very title of this album, Paranormal Musicality, is a tribute to her spirit and enduring influence on his music.

Check out the Andrei Proko-directed video for album opener Dolphin below:

AIR, the French musical duo Dunckel formed with Nicolas Godin, sold more than 4 million albums worldwide, with their best-known releases including their critically acclaimed debut album, Moon Safari (1998) and the score to Sofia Coppola’s cult classic, The Virgin Suicides (2000). These albums have since accumulated hundreds of millions of streams, with Moon Safari certified as Double Platinum in the UK and Playground Love racking up over 70 million streams on Spotify alone.

In 2024, Dunckel and Godin will embark on an anniversary tour celebrating 25 years since Moon Safari’s release, which includes a performance at London’s Coliseum on 24th March.

Paranormal Musicality is available now via Warner Classics on CD, LP and streaming platforms. Listen to the album HERE.

Phoenix Are Resplendent At Brixton

Nine Inch Nails @ Scala (Kalpesh Patel)

Trent And Atticus Nine Inch Nail It At The O2 Arena

Every act craves that strong connection with their audience – but how do you achieve this in a cavernous space like The O2 Arena, filled to the brim with around 20,000 fans (all, naturally, dressed in black)? Well, in typical belligerent style, Nine Inch Nails meet this challenge head on – treating us to a set by turns poetic and punishing, and despite the odd technical hiccup, really delivering that all important connection.

L-R: Roger Taylor, John Taylor, Simon Le Bon & Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran @ The O2 (Kalpesh Patel)

Duran Duran To Bring Their Spectacular Danse Macabre Halloween Party To Manchester’s Co-Op Live

British music legends Duran Duran have announced their first-ever UK Halloween extravaganza, set to take over Manchester’s Co-Op Live on Friday, 31st October 2025. Promising a night of haunting glamour, sonic mischief and spine-tingling surprises, the one-off show will mark the UK debut of the band’s acclaimed Danse Macabre Halloween Party.

Jane Remover @ Outbreak London 2025

Outbreak Festival Storms London: A Genre-Bending Baptism Of Hardcore, Chaos & Community

Outbreak has been the beating heart of the UK’s hardcore scene since 2011 at its home in Manchester, finally the...
Santana @ The O2 Arena (Kalpesh Patel)

A Higher Frequency: Santana’s Timeless Spirit Lights Up The O2 Arena

As London sweltered under a 32-degree summer solstice sun, a different kind of illumination awaited inside The O2 Arena. Carlos Santana—guitar deity, Woodstock survivor, and spiritual messenger—brought his legendary band and transcendental energy to the capital with his Oneness Tour, proving once again that music, when played with heart and soul, can truly heal.

Matt Bellamy of Muse @ The O2 (Kalpesh Patel)

Muse Return With Electrifying New Single ‘Unravelling’ — A Thunderous Taste Of What’s To Come

Muse have unleashed their blistering new single Unravelling, igniting excitement among fans as they return to the world stage with their trademark flair for drama and dystopian grandeur. The track marks their first new music since 2022’s Will Of The People and signals the beginning of a bold new chapter for the stadium-filling trio.

Green Day @ Download Festival XXII - Friday (Sarah Louise Bennett)

Punk, Pop, and Pyro: Day One Of Download Festival XXII Ignites Donington Park

75,000 fans descend on Donington Park for Download Festival XXII, and as the sun drenches the hallowed grounds, we’re here to see what goes down. Let’s dive into it.

Megan Moroney (Cece Dawson)

Megan Moroney Delivers The Breakup Anthem Of The Summer With Fiery New Single ‘6 Months Later’

After weeks of building buzz across social media and on stage, country music powerhouse Megan Moroney has officially released her latest single, 6 Months Later. A fierce, tongue-in-cheek breakup anthem drenched in sass and soul, the track is poised to become the soundtrack of the summer — an unmissable moment from one of country’s most electrifying rising stars.

KillerStar @ 100 CLUB (Briony Graham-Rudd)

KillerStar Unleash Live Version Of Glam-Rock Classic ‘Children Of The Revolution’ From Sold-Out 100 Club

KillerStar, the critically acclaimed outfit led by vocalist and guitarist Robert Fleming, have released a storming live rendition of T-Rex’s glam-rock anthem Children Of The Revolution, recorded during their sold-out shows at London’s legendary 100 Club earlier this year. The release is accompanied by a video capturing the electric energy of those special nights, featuring a band packed with legendary collaborators of the late David Bowie.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing