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Lots of lesser informed people will tell you this is his first album which is simply not true, he'd already released Les Granges Brulees which was a film soundtrack for an Alain Delon film and Deserted Palaces but both of them are a lot more experimental than Oxygene. If you've heard of ... Read review
A remix album compiled from the singles "Oxygene 8" and "10", Odyssey Through 02 is a big ... more
step forward for Jarre. What sets it apart from Chronlogie 6 is that the mixing duties were carried out by Parisien DJ Claude Monnet and it is his presence that ensures this album rests comfortably along side other dance compilations. The album is divided into three phases: Phase 1 (hip hop and ambient), Phase 2 (trance) and Phase 3 (house); all feature remixes from some of the best-known producers and DJs in the business, including Apollo Four Forty, DJ Cam and Tetsuya Komuro. However, the real highlights come from some of the lesser known acts, such as the German group Resistance D and The Sunday Club. The album also contains a computer program for PCs (Pentium with 32MB) and Apple Macs (Power PC) which allows you to create real time computer graphics in sync with the music on this (or any) CD. The CD is worth it for this software alone. --Colin Neal
Postage & Packaging:Free! Availability:Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Belongs in the collection of all music fans Disadvantages: Everyone complains his stuff sounds "samey"
...big fan!
Oxygene part 4 was released as a single (its video features penguins walking on ice) and reached number 4 in the UK charts in 1976, the same year as the album of Oxygene went on world wide release. Oxygene found a wide audience thanks to being adopted by various radio disc jockies, BBC Radio 1's own Peter Powell being one of its strongest supporters frequently using the single as backing music for things like the weekly chart ... ...birth of ambient or chill out music but Jarre was creating this stuff more than 20 years before the genre even evolved.
It's fair to say this album made Polydor a lot of money having only intially released only 50,000 copies as Francis Dreyfuss (who would go on to found his own record label thanks to the money he made off Oxygene) was unsure if electronic music like Jarre's would prove to be popular or not, it sold more than 15 million ... more
I grew up listening to it in the mid to late 70's as my brother used to play it a great deal on his stereo and have fallen asleep to its dulcet tones many times.
It makes me think of Space, of orbiting the Earth (no wonder my friends think I'm weird) but its a classic in the electronic soundscape. Listen to modern bands like Air and you can really hear the very heavy influences of Jean-Michel Jarre's early work.
Lots of lesser informed people will tell you this is his first album which is simply not true, he'd already released Les Granges Brulees which was a film soundtrack for an Alain Delon film and Deserted Palaces but both of them are a lot more experimental than Oxygene. If you've heard of them then your a fan. If you own them (like I do) then your a very big fan!
Oxygene part 4 was released as a single (its video features penguins walking on ice) and reached number 4 in the UK charts in 1976, the same year as the album of Oxygene went on world wide release. Oxygene found a wide audience thanks to being adopted by various radio disc jockies, BBC Radio 1's own Peter Powell being one of its strongest supporters frequently using the single as backing music for things like the weekly chart run-down.
Oxygene is probably responsible for the birth of ambient or chill out music but Jarre was creating this stuff more than 20 years before the genre even evolved.
It's fair to say this album made Polydor a lot of money having only intially released only 50,000 copies as Francis Dreyfuss (who would go on to found his own record label thanks to the money he made off Oxygene) was unsure if electronic music like Jarre's would prove to be popular or not, it sold more than 15 million copies and helped Francis Dreyfuss going from working at Disques Motors to owning Disques Dreyfuss.
Jarre recorded the entire album playing all the instruments himself using an 8 track recorder in his own home using analogue synthesizers which have now become collectors items. It's still a classic album and should grace the shelves of anyone who considers themselves a fan of electronic or ambient music.
Advantages: A classic electronic album Disadvantages: None
...is sectioned into tracks named Oxygene parts 1-6,but the tracks merge seamlessly into each other for one long playing symphony in lush analogue synthesizers.In the old days,I remember having to flip the record over .One of the great advantages of now having it on CD is to hear the full album in one go.
There are very serine moments that contrast with uplifting,dynamic heights.Sequences,basslines and electronic percussion gather momentum,taking the ... ...most well known will be Oxygene 4 which became a hit single and was used on countless TV programes.
Jarre has managed to paint a kind of impressionist,abstract view of the natural world by conjuring ,with the use of electronics,the wind,sea,birds and deep space.It has an organic quality.
For those of you who think electronic music is soulless,cold and automated ,think again!
It sounds rich,warm and has a minimalistic feel that is refreshing in ...
melodymaker 15.11.2003
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Advantages: easy listening Disadvantages: not for you if you don't like synthesizer music
Oxygène 7-13 continues where Jean-MichelJarre left off 20 years ago, that is, with the last track ("Part 6") of 1977's Oxygène. Much had changed in the interim, for both Jarre and synthesiser technology. The result is a set of up-tempo, highly melodic electronic trance reminiscent of Steve Hillage's work of the time, as well as German trance producers like Sven Väth. Though it will sound best to those already familiar with his music, Jarre's influence was considerable, and he continued to prove it into the late '90s.
Once again jean michelle jarre does it again with this stunning piece of composing, anyone who likes jarre will love this work. Also if you are new to jarre I thoroughly recommend this title it is to date probably his best work.
With some music you can just listen to it in the background ...
Advantages: It's JMJ! Disadvantages: Sounds a bit too much like other stuff in certain places
With this album Jean-Michel was attempting to find the same place he had reached back with the original release of Oxygene, the same kinds of instruments were used & he also stuck to the same themes.
Oxygene 7 reminds me of something from Bladerunner if I'm honest but is still a great track.
Oxygene 8, One of my personal faves & I never understood why this wasn't released as a single as it had all the right ingredients to be a dance hit & make JMJ a household name. This wouldn't be out of place in any club & would certainly find a willing audience in places like Ibiza.
Oxygene 9, It has more elements of Pink Floyd & Magnetic Fields.
Oxygene 10, if anything reminds me of "I Love To Hate You" by Erasure. It has elements of modern bands like Air & Royksopp but could have easily been written by Tangerine Dream back in about 1980 ...
Advantages: The album is great Disadvantages: None at all
. "Oxygène Part IV" - JeanMichelJarre
5. "X-Files Theme" - DJ Dado
6. "Tubular Bells Part 1" - Mike Oldfield
7. "Sadeness" - Enigma
8. "Adiemus" - Adiemus
9. "Crockett's Theme" - Jan Hammer
10. "Theme from The Mission" - Ennio Morricone
11. "Main Title Theme from The Last Emperor" - David Byrne
12. "Yeha-Noha (Wishes Of Happiness And Prosperity)" - Sacred Spirit
13. "Theme from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me" - Angelo Badalamenti
14. "Makambo" - Geoffrey Oryema
15. "My Wife with Champagne Shoulders" - Mark Isham
16. "The Promise" - Michael Nyman
17. "Lily Was Here" - David A. Stewart featuring Candy Dulfer ...
Product Information for "Oxygene - Jean Michel Jarre" »
Product details
Title
Oxygene
Performer
Jean Michel Jarre
Genre
Electronic
Sub Genre
Classic Electronic
Release Date
17/07/2000
Original Release Year
1977
Label / Distributor
Disques Dreyfus/Epic / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Format
Performer
EAN
5099748737526
Catalogue Number
4873752
Additional notes
Album Notes
Released in 1976, OXYGENE proved to be a massive hit for French electronic musician Jean-Michel Jarre. The son of film composer Maurice Jarre, the synthesizer player sought to create warmer sonic textures through the technology of the time, and the result was this pioneering six-part album. OXYGENE's bizarrely creepy cover, featuring a skull underneath the peeled-away surface of the globe, belies the music's lush beauty, though it does point to haunting moments such as "Oxygene III." The record's most recognizable track is the majestic "Oxygene IV," which features percolating synth lines and spare, nearly imperceptible beats. While the album would lead Jarre to international fame, especially in his native France and the rest of Europe, it also proved to be a recording that he struggled to top, even going so far as to release a sequel, OXYGENE 7-13, more than 20 years later. For aficionados of late-'70s electronic acts such as Tangerine Dream and Vangelis, this bold outing is essential.
Album Reviews
CD Review Reader Consensus - Performance 9.1 / Sound 8.3 Which CD - Neutral
Titles on disc 1
1.
Oxygene Part 1
2.
Oxygene Part 2
3.
Oxygene Part 3
4.
Oxygene Part 4
5.
Oxygene Part 5
6.
Oxygene Part 6
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25/01/2003
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