Scooter Chronicles

Jean Michel Jarre - “Oxygene”

Tracks:

1. Oxygene, Part 1
2. Oxygene, Part 2
3. Oxygene, Part 3
4. Oxygene, Part 4
5. Oxygene, Part 5
6. Oxygene, Part 6

As a fan, of sorts, of German electronic music pioneers Tangerine Dream, I had heard of the wonders that Jean Michel Jarre had put together. “If you like Tangerine Dream, you’ll love Jarre!” Well, it was a long time before I finally took the advice. Fifteen years as a matter of fact.

Jean Michel Jarre is originally from Lyon, France, and the son of Maurice Jarre, a film score composer. Jean Michel followed in his father’s footsteps for a while, then helped artists like Tangerine Dream push the electronic and new age genre of music during the 70’s.

First of all, I know there is a stigma with electronic music of the 70’s and new age. It’s boring and redundant. I will be the first to admit that. But I happen to like some of it. Some of the reasons quite honestly is for the sounds that are made. Though boring, I enjoy the soundscapes and atmospheres that are created.

Now for this album, I have a hard time not comparing this to the work of Tangerine Dream. That is probably due to my lack of exposure to other artists in this genre. Other then Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream is my only real experience of 70’s electronic music. The thing that sticks out most of all with “Oxygene” though is the melodies. Like most music of it’s style and era, there is really little that could be considered a melody. So it’s still not teeming with them. Though the songs are more cohesive and have direction. Maybe it was the film score composer in Jarre that led him to create something with more life. Though Tangerine Dream went on to do film scores as well, they where pioneering artists first, score composers second.

Now this isn’t to take away from Tangerine Dream. (Funny how praise of one album turns into “bashing” of sorts of another artist.) Actually, some of their music is very, very cool. The era that “Oxygene” was recorded, there were certain instruments that most of the electronic artists used. (Probably the only ones available.) The most popular were the VCS3 Synthesizer, the Farfisa Organ, and the A.R.P. Synthesizer. These go along with the already widely used Mellotron and Moog. I am sure that is part of the reason for my subconscious comparisons to Tangerine Dream. They all used these instruments. The point is though that I have found myself enjoying those sounds created by these instruments. Jarre though used them best in this recording, combined with his composing and arranging. Or at least my ears think he did.