With a career spanning over 50 years in electronic music, Jean Michel Jarre is very much a legend who is still releasing music. His music has been a huge part of my life ever since I heard his music on the Landscape Channel in the late 80s/ early 90s. The track, Oxygene 4 is a masterpiece and I have been enamored with Jarre ever since, having heard all his albums and owning most.

He went through a resurgence nearly a decade ago, releasing his collaboration albums Electronica 1 and 2 before dipping back into his first breakthrough album with Oxygene 3. Then, in 2018, he released arguably his best album in years- the stunning Equinoxe Infinity. Anyone fearing that he was merely trading on past glories need not have worried as he returned to his pre-worldwide success roots in 'musique concrete' (the process of using recorded sounds to create a sound montage which is often abstract in its quality) by creating a sonic soundscape inspired by the Amazon rainforest and the works of photographer Sebastião Salgado. It was a singular album but definitely more or an experience that was best viewed as a whole rather than any individual standout track. His follow up was another leftfield decision, Oxymore, a more boombastic, denser and faster paced affair than what we’ve been used to for quite a while. I liked the album just fine but it didn’t get under my skin like Equinoxe Infinity had. However, I didn’t let that worry me; I appreciate the chameleon like nature of Jarre with all its ups (Zoolook) and downs (Teo and Tea) and always look forward to seeing what the electronica maestro produces.

For a certain contingent of Jarre fans, who expect derivative works based on the Oxygene and Equinoxe albums, Jarre has apparently 'lost it' and is ‘past his prime’ etc, but as Jarre himself said during a Facebook Live session, "Some people are always unhappy". So for those who people, you might want to visit another site as this album may not be for you. Oxymore Works sees Jarre rework the Oxymore tracks with the likes of Brian Eno, Armin Van Buurin and French 79.

The album is a bright and breezy 44 minute and zips along at a cracking pace. A track by track review follows:

Brutalism Take 2 is a banger of an opener that throws the kitchen sink into the mix; there's a driving beat mixed with some John Carpenter level arpeggios and then a wailing electric guitar wending its way through the track. It quietens midway through the track then builds up to the drop... bliss!

Epica Extension features a discordant electronic orchestra wails along to a metronomic beat before a beautifully layered augmented voice kicks in and adds layer and depths to proceedings.

Brutalism Reprise has a banging EDM vibe to it with a nod to Pierre Henry and musique concrete before some whimsical angelic vocals ends the track in a note of harmony.

Epica Take 2 is a gentler take on track with a retrowave influence really lending it a vibe that is super 80s- and I’m here for it!

Synthy Sisters Take 2 is a slice of euphoric peace amongst the boombast of the other tracks, it is calm and soulful.

Epica Maxima is a melodic trance version of this track with the legendary Armin Van Buuren and it really is uplifting and euphoric. This is the most 90s like trance track and, as that’s my sweet-spot, this goes into my all-timer Jarre tracks.

Sex in the Machine Take 2 has a slow melodic beat and some warbly vocals but isn’t really my cup of tea as it sounds like a poor man’s Burial.

Zeitgeist Take 2 is a complex track and one that doesn’t gel with me. It is quite experimental but doesn’t have a through-line or consistent sound. The discordant noises smush together to make an incoherent whole.

Zeitgeist Botanica is a more melodious take on this track with a few vocals but the persistent arpeggio and beat keep it upbeat and flowing nicely.

So, overall, I enjoyed the album I think the first six tracks are good with Brutalism Take 2 and Epica Maxima being my particular favourites, but the tail end of the album didn’t excite or engage me. I’m glad that, at the age of 75, Jarre is pushing his musical boundaries and keeping things fresh. I wonder what he’ll come up with next….

LINK- Jean Michel Jarre Amazonia Review

LINK- Equinoxe Infinity Album Review

LINK- Planet Jarre Celebrates 50 Years of Jarre

LINK- Jean Michel Jarre Oxygene 3 Album Review

LINK- Jean Michel Jarre Electronica Vol. 2 Album Review

LINK- Everybody in the Place- An Incomplete History of Britain 1984- 1992 By Jeremy Deller

Jean Michel Jarre is going a bit more experimental in his old age and for some that's great; an electronic maestro flexing his skills to push boundaries. However, for others it's a fear that he's gone up his own backside for the sake of 'art' and is a bit more generic in this Sound Cloud age.

His last few albums have been interesting with revisits to old themes (Oxygene 3 and Equinoxe Infinity), collaborations (Electronica 1 and 2), his dalliance back into his musique concrète roots (Amazonia) and his embracing of VR with his 'live' VR show (Welcome to the Other Side: Live at Notre Dame).

With his latest album he leans into the latter two genres, mixing his musique concrète roots with VR. The concept here is of a binaural VR album where the music surrounds you. I've experienced synesthesia through the Bjork exhibition and through playing videogames like Tetris Effect and Rez Infinite and I have to say, the effect is electrifying. I don't have access to the Oxymore VR experience so I'm just listening to the binaural album with my Sennheiser PX200 headphones.... Hardly the optimal experience, I'm sure, but it's all I have so I'll judge the album on this, the lesser experience.

Oxymore was a much-hyped collaborative work with musique concrète pioneer Pierre Henry, but before the work to come to fruition Henry died. Luckily, Henry's wife provided Jarre with the music stems and so the album is more Jarre's work with a little Henry thrown in. Now, I'm not familiar with Henry's work so have to context for what the project would have sounded like if it had been completed fully but nonetheless, it's a fascinating listen.

It's a soundscape which is often abstract and difficult to pin down. The album works as a whole piece and I don't imagine listening to one track independently. It is very much a tapestry of sounds to immerse yourself in. It can be a challenging listen in that there are very few standout pieces but the whole is quite engaging and interesting. I can imagine listening to it after a hard day at work, just letting the crunchy beats and Jarre signature arpeggios wend their way around me. Standout tracks include Animal Genesis, an 80s synthy piece that sounds very Stranger Things, Zeitgeist, a track that has the most hummable melody in pretty much the whole album, Brutalism, a catchy, upbeat synthy piece, and Epica, a fitting finale for the whole album which uses elements seen throughout to end on a pop-filled high.

Jarre is a pioneer and, rather than leaning into his greatest hits, I love seeing his evolution as an artist. That said, that doesn't mean I've enjoyed all his recent works but that's what good artists do; they stretch themselves and try new things. It may not work out but it's better than being generic and boring, eh? Personally, I'd admire his range and willingness to try something new or different.

Oxymore is an interesting album and well worth a listen but is by no means classic essential Jarre. For a similar style I'd recommend Jon Hopkins who has a more melodious and crunchy beat to his work or, if you're feeling nostalgic, Burial is pretty awesome too.

LINK- Amazonia Album Review

LINK- Equinoxe Infinity Album Review

LINK- Planet Jarre Celebrates 50 Years of Jarre

LINK- Jean Michel Jarre Oxygene 3 Album Review

LINK- Jean Michel Jarre Electronica Vol. 2 Album Review