Oxygène (Disques Motors, 1976)
“Oxygène” is the third album of Jean-Michel Jarre and the innovative instrumental electronic music release by the sythesizer pioneer.
“Part 1” is the slow introduction part. Mysterious and cosmic mood is constructed by layers of pads, fine sequences and sound effects are attached and crossed as ornaments and, there is no particular melody. Then the part fades out and the part 2 fades in.
“Part 2” is JMJ’s most famous song and recording. It’s an apathetic also sacred and wonderful song. It begins with beautiful pad chord backing like a silk. Then synthesizer lead like a pluck instrument take part in and play baroque taste theme. From 4:00 soft pad lead plays solo like Jazz or Blues, and SE by EMS Synthi AKS plays ornaments, and noisy synthesizer SE like wave follows. Then pad lead sound become small and all parts are mixed and mood become melancholic. Pad chord backing emerges again and the song fades out and closes.
“Part 3” is sorrowful also brave mysterious song. Metallic plus wave lead plays impressive theme, another keen tone lead, pad(s) and bass sythesizer play the accompaniment.
“Part 4” is one of famous songs of JMJ, a minor key bright song with impressive funny pad lead theme solo and beautiful intricate pads and sound effects accompaniment, and electronic percussions.
“Part 5” is, in the former part, sacred, sweet and classical song is constructed by pads, lead and fine soft sequences with no rhythm. In the later part electric percussions and synthesizer bass take part in and mood become dynamic, bright and futuristic.
“Part 6” is a savage but romantic taste song with beautiful also bit melancholic phrases by sythesizer lead and pad, and layers of noisy also soft pad chord accompaniment.
The eternal excellent master-piece of electronic music is composed by highly sophisticated sense, and the sound is made by highly skilful uses of technologies. And it’s not only an electronic music, but also one of greatest contemporary music production has the mixture of mystic, classical and nostalgic also futuristic, cybernetic and cosmic moods.
Équinoxe (Disques Dreyfus, 1978)
“Équinoxe” is the fourth album of Jean-Michel Jarre, and the hymn to praise the festival of Équinoxe, Nature and life by to use electronic technologies.
“Part 1” is a short introduction part with bright and futuristic synthesizer ensemble.
“Part 2” is a slow and melancholic mood part, beautiful pad chord backing with metallic synth phrases. The later part, sequence by synthesizer like pluck and percussion instruments and pad lead solo follow.
“Part 3” is a middle tempo minor key romantic song with an impressive lead solo and elegant pad chord accompaniment. And this part is the introduction to “Part 4”.
“Part 4” is the one of famous songs and recordings of JMJ. It begins with an impressive chord progression of pad. Then the excellent melancholic theme is played by bright pluck synthesizer lead. Also the interlude is nice construction of synthesizer sequence arpeggios and pad lead. Later the theme emerged attains and another pad lead and synthesizer sound effects follow.
“Part 5” is bright and futuristic song praises the Équinoxe festival.
“Part 6” is variation of “Part 5”, the song become more optimistic and synthesizer tones are bright.
“Part 7” is a kind of mixture of “Part 4” and “Part 5”, the key is minor and pad plays melancholic mood chords but there are optimistic tone arpeggio sequences also.
“Part 8” is very slow unique track. The former part is constructed by environmental noises includes lightning and rain sounds, and synthesizer lead folk taste melancholic melody, it might express the awe and fear to the Nature. The later part is sacred, sweet and gentle part praises the grace of the Nature and the Earth.
“Équinoxe” is the second greatest album of Jean-Michel Jarre, and it’s not only a usual electronic music, is the excellent electronic music suit of various taste songs made by his highly sophisticated production and composition techniques. And there’s a wonderful story is constructed by parts, like a symphony.
Resources and Links
Jean-Michel Jarre – The official website
