Jean Michel Jarre: Oxygene

French composer Jean Michel Jarre, son of the famous film composer Maurice Jarre, celebrated breakthrough success in December 1976 with the release of his seminal first major album, 'Oxygene,' which has sold an estimated total of 12 million copies. This album became highly influential due to the combination of Jarre's grandiose french film music writing style with a strong electronica influence, realised with purely analog sysnthesisers. Jarre has released a total of 18 studio albums and sold an estimated 80 million units to date.

Jean Michel Jarre: Oxygene

The album contains a total of seven tracks labelled as 'Part I,' 'Part II,' Part III' and so forth. The most recognisable tracks, parts II and IV demonstrate early Trance music techniques through the form and instrumentation chosen, also creating the two most memorable melodies from the album.

While the later tracks don't quite hit the mark in the same way those mentioned above do, as a whole this album takes the listener on a remarkable musical journey that few albums since have rivalled. Jean Michel himself attempted this with the subsequent release of 'Oxygene 7-13,' which is reviewed here, however the slight naive charm of 'Oxygene' remains largely unmatched.

For the review to Jarre's 1978 follow up, 'Equinoxe,' click here.

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