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| Walhello -> Knowledge Base -> CDs -> J -> Jean Michel Jarre Equinoxe |
| Jean-Michel Jarre - Equinoxe Band: Jean-Michel Jarre Tracks: - Equinoxe Part 1 - Equinoxe Part 2 - Equinoxe Part 3 - Equinoxe Part 4 - Equinoxe Part 5 - Equinoxe Part 6 - Equinoxe Part 7 - Equinoxe Part 8 ...A Force to be Reckoned with... For me, Jean Michel Jarre's works act as a stylistic bridge between the neo-symphonic and structured genius of Vangelis and the atmospheric psychedelia of late 70's, early 80's Tangerine Dream. While I firmly believe that Vangelis produces work of unparalleled majesty and depth that surpasses both Jarre and Tangerine Dream in a compositional sense, I find Jarre's "Equinoxe" to be a technically brilliant and ground-breaking synth album that remains musically relevant today despite its 25 years of age, which it wears with more grace than any Electronic work released within at least 2 years of it. Jarre certainly proves with "Equinoxe" that he writes captivating and, as in the case of Equinoxe 5, infectious melodies. In addition, Jarre supplements these melodies with subtle and varied rhythmic/sequencer-esque foundations, Lush synthesized strings, and the obviously synthesized sound techniques (all manner of shimmerings, glurps, arpeggiated interludes, and weather sounds) that he popularized with his previous release "Oxygene". Jarre's compositions are consistently engaging and stimulating, and effortlessly transport the mind of the listener to realms of imagination and timelessness. With "Equinoxe", Jean Michel Jarre has Truly created a force to be reckoned with. If you're interested in works of a similar nature, try Tangerine Dream's "Force Majeure" (perhaps my all time fav TD recording), or just about anything by Vangelis (although his pre-1980 releases will probably appeal more to those enchanted by the "Equinoxe" sound). Also try Mike Andrews (found on Ampcast), who writes outstanding Jarre/Vangelis inspired music. Jarre's best album Whereas most people cite Oxygene as Jarre's best or best-known album that transformed Electronic music, Equinoxe is the TRUE masterpiece. It has a distinctly ambient, etheral, watery quality to it. Parts 6 and 7 are forerunners of modern trance music whereas parts 1, 2, and 3 are extremely ambient and gooey. Parts 4 and 5 are the best known and typical Jarre anthems. If you buy one Jarre album it should be this! Sound quality is also top notch. In my opinion the best Electronic album in history Apart from being My Favorite Jarre work, Equinoxe for me is the best synth album ever because the synth sounds are great (someone once said it had 'lightweight sounds' and compared it to a 1983 digital album with really dull sounds that I am not going to mention since there are lots of Tangerine Dream fans around. Well, I wonder if that guy actually owns this album), especially on the underrated standout piece of the album, Equinoxe Part 3, and the compositions are both atmospheric and accesible, transporting and simple, direct and complex. This, and not Oxygène, is, in my opinion, the album for the Jarre starter, although buying them together and listening to Equinoxe first is probably the right move. Oh and, by the way, I think I have the right to say that Felix Matathias reviewer is wrong. Equinoxe doesn't owe anything to Tangerine Dream or Klaus Schulze. I am not saying that they are bad, but they are definitively NOT in Jean Michel Jarre's style. However, some people that like Jean Michel Jarre like the albums that Matathias mentions. So, in case you don't like Klaus Schulze or Tangerine Dream, don't be scared by the reviews and recommendations: just listen to the samples! (A note: And, please stop lumping this with unaccesible Berlin ambient, or, indeed, with boring New Age!) Buy Jean Michel Jarre Equinoxe at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.comJamster - the latest ringtones for your phone! |
