Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene

2007 digitally remastered 30th Anniversary edition of this influential Electronic album. Famed for it's melodic lushed spaced-out Electronica, this is the album that captured keyboard maestro Jarre at his zenith. The lead single 'Oxygene IV' is one the most recognizable Electronic pieces in recent history. The son of famed French film composer Maurice Jarre, Jean-Michel Jarre is a synthesizer wizard, who had a number of instrumental hits, beginning in 1977 with "Oxygene", the success of which propelled him to pop-star status. In the ensuing decades, he has continued releasing albums and mounting enormous stage spectacles around the globe. EMI. Album Description

like it always shoul have been

Nothing much to say. This is the sound We have been waiting for, for the best electronic music album ever. March 17, 2008

His first album and probably still considered his greatest

Way before we had Autechre, Aphex Twin, and the Orb, electronic music was it's most innovative during the 1970's.

The best way to start to buy Jean Michel Jarre albums, is to start with his greatest achievements. "Oxygene" (1976), "Equinoxe" (1978), "Les Chants Magnetiques (Magnetic Fields)" (1981), and then jump to "Chronologie" (1993).

One thing that I loved about the 1970's is that artists all had the liberty to do whatever they wanted to do. Nobody was told that they had to make music that sounded like whatever was popular at the time. If you were really different, then you were given that chance to expressive your own new concept of sound art. Today, if you try to do something different, then you get immediately categorized, and probably end up in the "not likely to sell" file. Today, record companies seem to be very selective on what they are willing to invest in and record. That's probably why we have so many independent labels now. The big recording industries like Columbia, Capitol, and RCA are probably just relying on the sales of repackage hits of their former successful artists.

Anyway, Jean Michel Jarre was one of the outsiders who was entering the spacy soundscape concept similar to Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Tomita, Mike Oldfield, and even Vangelis. I love the innovators of electronic music of the seventies, and Jean Michel Jarre became my favorite when I first started buying CD's in the eighties. The new compact disc concept was perfect for re-introducing electronic music. This album of "Oxygene" was one of my first CD's that I bought in 1984. I've never played another cassette tape again, although I've made cassette tape recording to give to friends so I could introduce them to Jean Michel Jarre, and other electronic artists, too.


However, Jean Michel Jarre must truly have been struggling these passed 15 years. He has his own unique sound, and yet he's been trying to stay alive for more than 30 years. I can see his confusion though. His most loyal fans have a particular expectation of what music he creates. And nobody can be expected to just continue to do the same thing over and over again. "Oxygene", "Equinoxe", and "Magnetic Fields" were the albums that set the stage for what was Jarre's fabulous unique sound. But, all through his career he seemed to want to re-create himself. He did a weird soundtrack album in 1973 called "Les Granges Brulees" which only recently got released on CD a couple of years ago. I didn't like it and I'm sure Jarre himself is not too fond of it. However, in 1976, his illustrious career began with "Oxygene", which is probably still his most famous album. Anyone who has "Oxygene" probably has "Equinoxe" as well. Anything he released after this, we couldn't wait to buy. Then, he caught us all off guard in 1984 with "Zoolook" This took a little while to grow on me, but eventually, it did. It also made me a little hesitant about his next album. In 1986, he put out "Rendez-vous" and redeemed himself, and our expectations. Then, it seemed like he was beginning to get sloppy. He has released a lot of live albums and I thought that he was just killing time with all those unnecessary releases. I enjoy 1982's "The Concerts in China", and I've kept his other double live CD of 1994's "Hong Kong". But he has several other live albums that just seemed to repeat the same sound as the previous studio releases, but with half-hearted applause from the listening audience.

In 1988, his album "Revolutions" had some great short passages, and then some rather dumb child-like sound concepts. Then in 1990, his album "Waiting for Cousteau" had two fabulous instrumentals called "Calypso 2 and 3" (I didn't care for Calypso 1") and then his title track is his first truly ambient sound passage. He did a nearly 47 minute soundscape which simulated lying on the ocean floor and listening to the sounds of passing sea mammals and other underwater sound effects. I do like it, but I gotta be in the mood to listen to it. When I'm tired and I want to sit in the dark and listen to something, this track is pretty soothing and relaxing.

Then, in 1993, he puts out an album called "Chronologie". To me this is his greatest album since his first three albums. This is one of my top five favorite albums from Jean Michel Jarre. I was thinking: "Yes! The Jean Michel Jarre that we all knew, is back!" But, then, after this album, I think Jarre was beginning to get confused. He didn't quite do anything for a while. Maybe he was basking in the glow of his new latest sound achievement, and now he didn't know how to follow up on it. Two years afterwards, he releases another double live album called "Hong Kong". I like it because he incorporated a band to add more energy to his familiar music of the past and so it was nice to hear a concert that featured the music of all his best albums. I wish this concert was filmed for video. What a loss that is.

A year later, somebody tampers with Jarre's music and created a various remix album called "Jarremix". I don't think Jarre had much participation in creating these remixes other that just the rhythms of certain tracks. This is another CD that I have to be in the mood for. I seldom ever care to play this CD.

With Jarre suddenly realizing that he's tapped into a multitude of different directions, he came to a halt on his creativity. So, check this out. In 1997, he releases an album called "Oxygene 7 -13". This album sounds like he's trying to resell his most cherished album by simulating some of the sounds of the original album. It's a keeper, but I don't know why Jarre felt like he had to do this. Maybe he knew that it couldn't help but sell well because he IS Jean Michel Jarre and "Oxygene" WAS he greatest selling album. You know, Mike Oldfield did this too. In 1973, his first album "Tubular Bells" was his greatest selling album, with his career continuing a moderate downward direction of appeal, in 1992 he released an album called "Tubular Bells 2" which brought his earlier fan base back (including me). And in 1998, he even did a "Tubular Bells 3" and then he did "Tubular Bells 2003" which proves that he has lost his grip with what he wants to put out for his fan base. Anyway, I was wondering if Jarre was going to put out an album called "Equinoxe 9 - 17". He may as well, I'm sure it would sell.

I have mixed opinions about Jarre's new millenium album called "Metamorphoses". The long album side soundscapes are no more. He's starting to stick to just a bunch of short songs. And he incorporates female voices in many of the songs. It's hit and miss with these tunes. Mostly miss. Then he comes out with "Sessions 2000". This album does not sound like Jean Michel Jarre at all. This whole boring concept sounds like the sounds you could invent in your own head if you were sitting forever in a waiting room, or you were in silent solitary confinement. Then his next album "Geometry of Love" continued the same dull concept. Two bland, boorish, CD's in a row and neither one even worthy of being released in a regular jewel case.

Yes, the days of Jarre's greatest moments are all truly over. I believe it ended with "Chronologie." If you're new to hearing Jean Michel Jarre's music, start with "Oxygene", "Equinoxe", "Les Chants Magnetiques (Magnetic Fields)," and the "Chronolgie". You won't be disappointed. But it's up to you where you go from there.
September 30, 2007

Has two classic sythesiser instrumentals tracks: 4.5/5

This album is, I think, an entirely synthesiser based recording. However, the variety of sounds emanating from the synthesiser more than make up for the lone instrument. I can't remember when I first heard music from this alum. Perhaps I heard some tracks before Peter Weir released him famous Australian World War I movie "Gallipoli" [based on an historical event that is used and abused to define Australia as a nation]. Some of the noises the synthesiser creates makes me think of war time noises, so perhaps that is why director Peter Weir used the track Oxygene II from this album, or my viewing of the movie influences how I interpret sounds in the cd.

Before I begin discussing the tracks on this cd, I'll just let it be said that the album cover art is one of music's best-right up there with Midnight Oil's album "Red sails in the sunset" [reviewed here by me].

Now, to the music. There are six tracks on this album, ranging from under three minutes long to over ten minutes long. Each track is called "Oxygene", followed by a Roman numeral from 1 to 6.

Oxygene I sort of sounds like a prelude to something. It's slow and delicate in nature, with some bits sort of sounding like a vessel being repeatedly filled with liquid. If you've ever seen those novelty performance tv shows, some sounds are akin to that old tv faithful of a saw being played like a violin-a mournful sound. A sound like a glockenspiel [or whatever it is called] is also apparent, when a heavier soundscape comes into play, perhaps presaging the classic Oxygene II.

One thing that surprises me is the delineation of the tracks-the LCD display on your cd will separate the tracks one way, and the album cover has slight variations on track length. To me, in some cases, both definitions are wrong-as I have certain tracks starting sooner than either the cd or the cover have them starting.

That being said, pretty much all of the tracks "bleed" into eachother. Around the time that the first track has "watery" sounds, there are also sounds which make me think of shells whistling over your head [as in wartime]. Another thing that surprised me was the feeling of joy I felt once I felt that the prelude to Oxygene II was beginning in the first track-I had a sort of Meg Ryan in the restaurant scene experience in the movie "When Harry met Sally". Don't know what that was all about-I just felt really happy listening to this bit. I hadn't heard this album for ages, until I relistened to it last night, purely to review it for here.

The second track, Oxygene II, has a terrific melody and vitality to it. The synthesiser plays the main melody in a high pitch. It races along at a fast pace, making me think of machine guns...or a rapid heartbeat...or galloping horse! Further into the track the melody changes sound and becomes more haunting. The music sounds alien and then it becomes very desolate-like the sound of a fierce wind lashing sand at you.

Track 3- has a more creepy sound...gothic, perhaps, or regal. A very low-down sound, with the reappearance of the sound like a saw being played like a violin. The tracks starts to "bleed" into Oxygene IV with the sound of birds...seagulls, perhaps.

Oxygene IV-the second classic from this album. Again, you hear the sound of wind, there is a really cool, low-down rhythym, with a very nice, melodic riff over the top of that. The song bleeds into the next track with some more 'watery' sounds, or 'stoner' sounds, depending on your view.

Oxygene V-continues bleeding from the previous track then becomes more like a church organ...solemn. It then becomes heavier in tone, not unlike parts of the third track on this album.

Might have mucked up in my note taken, as I'm not sure what part of the following refers to track 5, and when I start to comment on track 6:

There is a change of vibe-the riff becomes insistent, suggestive of either track 2 or perhaps 4. There are some nice uses of stereo 'widgy widgy' effects [i.e. if you are wearing headphones, the sounds migrate to one side of your headphones to the other, etc.].

There are more 'desolate' noises, like windswept sand, plaintive seagulls etc. Perhaps some noises can be likened to the Earth 'breathing' or perhaps it is more like the sound of waves rolling in and out of a beach.

Towards the end, you hear some Latin American sounds from the synthesiser-like maraccas, perhaps.

In conclusion, this is a terrific album-tracks 2 and 4 are pop classics, and the rest is what I would call very good 'hot bath' music!

Check out the movie "Gallipoli" to see and hear how well Oxygene II works to create tension in this movie.

If you like this kind of music, I have reviewed or recommend the following albums:

Cocteau Twins-Blue Bell Knoll [synth music with lyrics, not in English]

Air-Moon Safari [synth music with English language lyrics]

Patti Smith-Horses ['arty' music with poetic lyrics]

Midnight Oil-Bird Noises [an EP with a terrific instrumental "Weddingcake Island". Has a "The Shadows" type vibe to it].

Gary Numan [don't have anything of his, but I must get a hits cd one day-he was a British pop singer who made some terrific synthesiser based songs].

Just by the by, some heavy metal acts dabble in instrumentals or trippy type music, e.g. Black Sabbath's very nice and trippy track "Planet caravan" and Metallica's cool rhythym based instrumental "Orion".
August 19, 2007

Jarre's Magnum Opus

Frenchman Jean Michel Jarre is an early pioneer of Electronica just like Germans Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream also were, but Jarre's music is more accessable with dreamy vibes and meliodic themes and neither is it minimalistic nor too exprimental, it's simply an opera of Electro with beautiful arrangements. Released in 1977 "Oxygene" was an early electronica masterpiece that would not only be one of the bluprints for upcoming eletro music but would also be one of the finest, most meliodic and dreamy Electronica albums of all time. Talented composer Jarre creates a fantastic sound with his synthesizer(s) that still to this day is fascinating to listen to. Back then it was quite unusual that one artist singlehandedly could create such a colourful athmosphere using so few instruments but it almost feels like in space listening to Oxygene and although all of the 6 songs share the same name they are completely diffrent but tangled into a great concept. Oxygène Part IV was single released and huge hit the same year, in the video for the song you could see a penguin march from Antarctica. That song like all others are instrumental but for Jarre words are redundant and he'll capture you entirely with his sound instead and you'll discover new details after each listen. This album is only 40 minutes in lenght but if you have listened to the likes of Robert Miles, Air and BT, I'll be recommending you to check out Jean Michel Jarre aswell cause his music influenced them all. June 11, 2007

Mona Lisa of electronica

Electronic tunes at their best. Listen to this and chill. I still chill with this after all these years. What can I say. His music is so universal, the Iranian radio and tv, have been using his tunes since the revolution for all their sports programs, of course without giving him credit. The power of good music. June 10, 2007

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