Crossword Genius

Fashionable tunes first, then balloon (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

airship

'balloon' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'fashionable tunes first' is the wordplay.
'fashionable' becomes 'hip' (hip can mean trendy or fashionable).
'tunes' becomes 'airs' (air can mean a piece of music).
'first' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'hip' put after 'airs' is 'AIRSHIP'.

'then' is the link.

(Other definitions for airship that I've seen before include "Means of transport" , "Flying machine" , "Lighter-than-air craft" , "Old flier" , "Gas-filled craft" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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