Oxygène

Definitely different from my usual listening, but I did enjoy it even if I don't love the style all that much. This is another album that I'd probably never have picked on my own, so I am glad it came up on here. I felt like it would be good to have on in very specific settings, such as while doing meditation or with fog machines and lasers in an art space. I can't say it is something I'd just put on and listen to, but strangely enough I really dug it. I liked the way it flowed and worked as a whole. The negatives are that it does seem a bit niche and replay-ability isn't high for me. I'm not sure I'd call it great, but it was definitely good. Overall: 3.4/5

Chill ambient beats to work to.

Electronica has been one of my lowest rated genres in this project so far, largely because it has been dance/clubbing rubbish rather than the real thing. This is the real thing.

Day478 - i was hoping oxygene part 7 would be the ska version but alas

I'm sure this was groundbreaking at the time, but it's not exciting any more...

En riktig klassiker! Femma!

Sygt. Kender part 4...Måske er det Tetris? 🤷 Det var en dronen omgang.

Kraftwerk på den kedelige måde. Alt for lange synthflader uden meget bas eller andet til at skabe rytme.

More video game music!

2--

Almost like a jazz/lounge album masquerading as ‘electronic’. Not as proggy as tubular bells. I didn’t hate it but didn’t love it either.

💩

Great vibe all around.

I've been listening to Mort Garson's Plantasia and watching the show Carême a lot lately - this is the perfect blend of those two and I will not elaborate further.

Album explores a different dimension

I almost fell asleep so I gave up.

This record was very atmospherically fitting while riding the Sydney Harbour ferry during a chilly, rainy evening; particularly the final track with the high-pitched bird-like sounds.

Not quite as bad as some of the other electronic albums on this list, but still isn’t my thing. Borderline too boring. 2/5 won’t listen again

Busier and more attention grabbbing than other ambient albums and less hypnotically driving and psych than Krautrock, this is is a bright and poppy super melodic take on spacey synth electronica.

Incredible in it's genre. It's ambient and atmosperic. I saw another review describing it as futuristic and I think it describes it well. It's a very retro futuristic sound and it could easily be used for a soundtrack for a sci-fi film from the 70s or 80s.

Varför?

Booooooriiiiinggggggg. More lofi beats to chill/study to.

I am sure this is not for everyone but it's certainly for me. I've never really dug too far deep into earlier electronica and ambient but I've been enjoying anything I've been hitting on this list. This somehow feels both very alien and terrestrial at the same time.

It's alright ambiant music, it reminds me of a soundtrack in some ways and it totally could be for a space-y movie of some kind. Most tracks faded a bit into the background (as intended I guess) but a few of them had bits that kept my interest Standouts Oxygène (Part II) Oxygène (Part V) 3/5

This is our third electronic album in a row. The last two were 90s electronic duds. This one was still pretty slow but it was more spacey and I appreciate how it was made. It feels more layered than the 90s ones. The synths in this one feel nicer on my brain too. Still not anything mindblowing for me but I definitely like this one better.

Wouldn't exactly describe this as my cup of tea, but I did find it interesting and unique. Very spacey and drawn out. I like how its a slow burns and builds and then crashes. Kind of weird nerdy sounds. This feels more organic than some of the other early electronic albums.

Honestly, this isn't as much fun as I remember it. Part 4 is the memorable one, with Part 2 also being pretty good. There are listenable bits of the others but either repetition, or plain dullness get in the way. Yes, it was groundbreaking on release and I accept it has earned its place here more than some but it'll be a while before I seek it out again.

Давний фаворит. Доступный, но интересный и приятный.

EXCELLENT ambience. Love the futuristic sound, different tones, and the use of panning in Part 5.

Intersting album that was quite nice instrumental background reading 7/10

I have no doubt that this album was way ahead of its time. It sounds like something that came from 1986, not 1976. For that alone, Oxygene deserves its props. Beyond just being an innovative synth album, there are moments throughout the project that still sound massive and impactful by today’s standards - I think that can be attributed to a tasteful balance of quiet passages or near-silent moments. I also have no doubt that there are moments on this record that have locked its sonic aesthetics in a time capsule. “Part 2” was a song I liked a lot, cool synth arp at the beginning. Then some laser sfx throughout that reminded me of the ones on “Superheroes” by Daft Punk. I loved the phased out chords on “Oart 4”. Pretty indistinguishable from an Air track, really impressive. The first 3 minutes of “Part 5” soften things up with those delicate, twinkly suspended chords. Feels like the very stereotypical introduction of the love interest in a sci-fi movie song. But it kinda breaks away from that into something more progressive with some white noise hits that sound kinda chiptuney. This album is SO French-electronica, and “Part 6” probably did a whole lot to lay the groundwork for the region and subgenre as a whole. It’s got a beachy, waiting-room drum machine loop. It’s got swells of white noise and synth pads heavily rinsed in a phaser/flanger effect again. I may not have been around for the advent of the cassette player or the giant laser disk, but I know the quintessential synth wave / electronica sounds when I hear them. This was a really good way to end the album. Good music to put on in the background at night while doing something mellow. 3/5.

Sounds like the mediocre soundtrack to an equally mediocre indie metroidvania

Okish. Sometimes it sounded like a video game soundtrack.

Soothing and quite pleasant

So recognizable. Great early synth compositions

Music to listen to while floating in a sensory-deprivation tank. Otherwise, I can’t find anything essential about this album. Synthesizer technology was not developed enough in 1976 to do anything really amazing yet.

The one thing this project has taught me is that I'm into Pure Moods-core

It was decent. Not sure why it is on the list.

This one is a workday balm!

Quite nice; it reminded me a bit of Tangerine Dream’s “Phaedra,” but this one didn’t quite sink its hooks into me in the same way.

Oxygène (Part IV)

I have zero interest in this kind of music.

That was a waste of time.

Easy-going, chill, really all I want in some electronic album of this era. I've heard people talk about Jean-Michel Jarre before as one of those early prog electronic greats besides Kraftwerk or Klaus Schulze but never got around to a thing of his proper until now. It's nothing that I haven't heard or haven't experienced in other music but despite that it's still a very nice album, I really recommend it if you just want something easy while still interesting and intricate as far as electronics go.

This would be a cool space video game soundtrack. Other than that, I was relatively bored with this album. It's cool sounding, but not much else to me. It gets a bonus point for being released as early as it was. This album could be made by some hobbyist today on a 10 year old laptop, but doing this in 1976 is pretty cool.

3* 78%

My first thought listening to this was “This is so simple, I bet I could make this” which might sound cocky, but there isn’t anything too complex or profound in the album. That said, Jarre making this in the 70s makes it much more impressive - we now live in a world where electronic music is more accessible than ever for both music makers and consumers, so while it may be pretty simple compared to modern techno/house music, it’s pretty awesome for something so early in the genre. Still, if I rate this purely based on how it sounds… it really is a bunch of random laser sounds put over some soothing chords and keyboard melodies.

Except the well known "Oxygene Part IV" it's just pretty good background-music for me. 2,5

It was alright. Pt4 was the best track, which would the most known track. Very of it’s time.

Basically Muzak.

Wait kinda loveee

I don't enjoy ambient music, but this one at least had some structure to grasp onto and sounded nice enough, even if I was still kind of bored

A good album, very soothing sounds.

amazing synth record in 1977, still sounds great today "di-di-di-dee-dee"

Oxygène 4 was the soundtrack to my childhood…

I really liked this! I like when theres a sense of storytelling in electronic music. This isnt just pleasent listening but it keeps me interested. I can also tell how influential this is.

So experimental for the time, kinda giving video game but much cleaner for the time haha. Got sick of it in the auto play queue afterwards but it was the perfect length !

For the time that it was made, it sounds futuristic in its approach. It would seem to be that using electronic synths adds to the subtle ambient sound nicely. Interesting listen and sounds like the wake of computer related music.

If there is a romance movie out there somewhere between two robots, this could be the soundtrack. And I’m skipping that movie.

Thin and cringy

This kind of album isn't really for me. I find them boring. It's fine, but at best this is background music.

This is the music that would play in every sci-fi movie from the 50s when an alien named Gleep-Glorp shows up.

Despite the freaky album art, Oxygène is a pretty light and airy instrumental synth album. It sounds like it's soundtracking something, I don't know exactly what, but something. I can't say it engaged me all the way through but I can definitely say it's a very forward-thinking album by 1976 standards. Key tracks: Oxygène Part IV

Ok, but a bit boring

i bet this would've blown peoples domes off 50 years ago. to me it sounds like garage band

cool spacey 70s french ambient music. i'm sure this was absolutely mind-boggling when it came out, even though now it seems pretty tame. still pleasant to listen to. also this is a sick album cover, definitely worthy of being airbrushed onto the side of a panel van. favorites: oxygene pts. 1, 2, and 4

Ah, neat. I guess....all the blips, bleeps and bloops are fancy. A great album for when I'm visiting a planetarium which is somewhere between rare and never. I would love to see Police Academy's Michael Winslow perform this live!

Terraria music before its time. Incredible. I like that the tracks bleed into one another. It gives a 70s prog rock feel (which, I guess, is exactly what it is), a genre that somehow feels both overrated and underrepresented in the set of most legendary music ever created. The bass at the beginning of Pt. 2 is very reminiscent of Pink Floyd's Sheep (1977) – so much so that it's very possible Pink Floyd was inspired by Jarre's work. The beginning of Pt. 4 also greatly resembles the opening of One Of These Days (1971) off the Meddle album. I wonder if the two artists influenced each other throughout the 70s. There are also some elements of Oxygène that are unusual for progressive rock, the most noticeable of which is the very abrupt addition of cosmic, high-pitched synths partway through Pt. 5(?). This almost gives it a movie or TV show soundtrack feel rather than a slow soundscape record. In contrast, the music's tendency to stoutly remain on one chord for several minutes at a time does get a little tedious. This is not one for close listening, that's for sure. Jean-Michel Jarre is clearly having a blast in his makeshift home studio. And heck, the audience is too. This apparently reached #1 in France and #2 in the UK, which is something that would be unheard of for an ambient electronic album in the 21st century. (Man, these zoomers and their dinky attention spans!) 4/5 Key tracks: Side 1 (Pts. 1-3)

Heard this as a kid and I'm sure it changed my life even then. JMJ isn't the father of electronic music (the synthesiser and theremin predate him by decades), but he's at least an uncle once removed. Superb stuff!

A true masterpiece. More of a progressive project really, which is why it works so well. Electronic music that never gets bland and repetitive. Great album art as well

Nah ✌

Space and ocean sounds?

Might sound a little dated now, but I bet it was pretty awesome when it came out.

I’m a big fan of electronic music, it was great to listen to a pioneer of the genre. Can really get a sense of how it’s derived from this

I enjoyed it for about half the album. Too much at once, but would listen again

v easy to listen to always and forever

Incredible work. Atmospheric, cinematic. Very unique ethnic sound blended with very eclectic synth melodies

Итс э классик. Лучшая песня - Oxygène (Part II).

Okay. I can see for it's time it was very ground breaking, but it's just not my jam

Sounds like a movie soundtrack. 2.5

Heck yeah this rips. Really cool experience to listen to. Awesome find.

Klassiker! Vad vore Barnens ö utan Jean-Michel Jarre?

In my mind I see blue skies with a Concorde being tracked through it a dazzling vision of a near-future France. This is the soundtrack to that vision.

Es klingt gut. Aber im Kontext Videospiele oder so wäre es so viel besser. Die Lieder sind bis auf Part 3 und 4 auf jeden Fall zu lang. Wäre bei Part 3 und 4 noch etwas Gesang dabei oder so wären das auch im normalen Kontext Musik hören wirklich gute Lieder.

If i was high this would probably go crazy.

Runescape-aah beat in Pt. 5 HL: “Pt. 5”, “Pt. 4”, “Pt. 2” February 15, 2025

The top review says more or less everything I would say. Everyone my age knows his name and this record, to a greater or lesser degree. A synth and electronic pioneer, and something I wouldn't think of listening to nowadays, I think of it in similar terms as Tubular Bells, except this is better as a whole piece. Some of it brings to mind Vangelis also, and could complement the Blade Runner soundtrack. Definitely feel like it holds up. And should be listened to as a whole.

I've been looking forward to this since I saw it was on the list, getting a well-deserved 5, love it

It's impressive how little it takes sometimes for music to be fantastic. Just some looping synths and drum beats manages to make this a fun album to listen to. Great atmosphere.

Of course, one of the most important albums in the history of electronic music. Absolutely gorgeous soundscapes, and top notch production. It's obvious by the lack of diversity in sounds that electronic music was still in its infancy, but on the whole this still sounds amazing, and of course was super influential.

So intense - what a great listen

This is a really cool early electronic album. Unless I am mistaken, JMJ is the performer of the largest concert in human history. Pretty cool album.

Interesting and unique! I enjoyed the psychedelic, floaty nature of it. Fun instrumentals overall. It did hang out in each section a bit too long at times, but it didn't annoy me too much. 'Oxygéne, Pt. 5' was my favorite, it got kinda funky.

Come on man... just a waste of time. Heard one electronica album from the 70s you heard them all. 3/10.

Electronic music

2/5

Listened years ago and enjoyed then (3.5 then) but hasn’t held up to the test of time.

klassikko ja sen takia 5.

I wish I was the type of person who could enjoy ambient, but I’m just not.

It sounds like something I'd hear on a 70's sci-fantasy soundtrack. Nice background music for working on reports, with its weird ethereal quality.

Positively surprised. Had a great time listening to this while cleaning my vinyl collection.

Not my type of music at all. In summary I found this album to be background noise and absolute rubbish!! Favourite song: Oxygene part 4. I have heard this somewhere before and can’t quite place it. Least favourite: Every song on the album called oxygene! Album artwork: Cool cover but that’s about as good as it gets.

Electronic noise / forgettable music

Just not for me.

Brings back nostalgic memories of sitting hunched over my ZX Spectrum while this plays on a double tape deck. A solid four, though I appreciate some of that may be the nostalgia.

ganz nett aber i kann persönlich nit viel damit anfangen

YAY WELCOME TO MY BEAUTIFUL PLANÈTE

4 is just superb. The rest are a beautiful accompaniment to the arrival of, and departure of, 4. It gave me goosebumps rediscovering it. I used to have this album. It was a delight, I saw and felt so many things on playing this music, the analogies the digital, the wind, the clicks and the layering. It has aged but not lost its significance to me of loving and delighting in good electronic music. 5 stars.

Not as bad as you would think

Pink floydish space noises

I don't really understand why most background stuff like this makes it on here, and I don't know how to rate it. Felt like I was in an 80s fantasy video game

I dig this

Meh

Irgendwie cooler ambient kram Aber sau lame??? Cooles cover though

A good album this, enjoyed it. I imagine was pretty cutting edge for its time and can hear the influence it had on so much modern electronic music. However, just don’t know how often I’d reach to put it back on.

The approach to naming songs is lazy af. I know it’s venerated because it was groundbreaking, but really it’s just standard sci-fi OST stuff these days.

Really enjoyed this. It’s a cool vibe, very sci fi. As Big Al says it’s kinda background music, but it’s very good background music.l

Good for what it is, probably wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it but a good album

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would but tended to zone out of a lot of it. Still good though

Really like this. Love the continuity between the songs and a real feeling of it being one piece

I like it, very scifi and sounds a lot more recent than the date it was released

Good noises. A high 3.

Groundbreakingness understood although it's not necessarily something I'll put on an awful lot. But... It's also something I'm sure I'll listen to again at some point.

Surprisingly enjoyable, and I like the story of how this hi-fi album was recorded in such a low-fi way. It sounded like the background music to 80s-era "Miami Vice."

Yet another album on this list that I might throw on as background music. Impressive though that was made nearly 50 years ago.

Heerlijk, die goede oude Synthesizer Greatest tijd. Je moet geen haast hebben, maar dit album is wel lekker zeg! Ik wist helemaal niet dat dit album al in de '70s bestond!! Dat maakt het nog indrukwekkender!!! ****

Bra skit! 9/10

Gorgeous electronic instrumental.

A genius album of its time.

This is an album I've meant to listen to for literally 5 years, when it was first recommended to me. Once I saw it was on the list, I decided to wait. I would say it was worth the wait. I didn't really care for Pt. 1 but it picked up for me with Pt 2 and stayed great through to the end. Pt 4 was the highlight for me, which I understand led to Jean-Michel Jarre's breakthrough. Would rate 4.5 but going to round up because I think it deserves it.

2.5 stars. Early electronic music. Decent background music but mostly boring except for "Oxygene, Pt. 4".

Will need to give another listen sometime. But I really enjoyed this. Seemed like one long song meant to underscore a spiritual journey.

Atmospheric. Good stuff. Clearly ahead of its time.

I didn't think I was in the mood and then wouldn't you know it, it created the mood.

It's giving "80s fantasy film with a demented good synth soundtrack that doesn't fit at all", and if you know me you know what a compliment that is. Might make a Jarre playlist for the next time I run a fantasy RPG, for the full Ladyhawke effect.

What’s French for Kraftwerk? But this is a really good album.

In always up for a bit of ambient electronica, and JMJ definitely brings it here. I miss the films of the early 80s, which had soundtracks that sounded like this despite it being completely incongruous to the setting and feel of the actual story - bring back films like The Keep and Ladyhawke, you cowards!

soothing and exotic. very relaxing and enjoyable.

You know I’m gonna be unhinged with this one :( This man has the world record for largest crowd at a concert ever for these lowkey goofy beats. Bro played synth and put alien laser beam notes over it like Ross in that episode of friends. Like this guy had the first synth ever that had those sound effects built in and went stupid with it. Part 6 got an animal crossing ahh beat. I’m just so unsure how to feel about this one. This is similar to MJ Cole like I’m sure it was groundbreaking but just idk.

The Minecraft soundtrack if it were made in the 80s. Amazing.

Already one of my absolute faves.

Interesting

Spacy and way out there in 1976. What an open and ethereal album! I love it!

synth bore

Funky but decent

this was so much better than i thought it would be reminded me of low by bowie but with more purpose very sci fi and i loved it

You know its gonna be barmy when the artist is on the adhd hyperfocus playlist

The Good: JMJ! The Bad: Only old farts like me know who JMJ is… The Ugly: The younger folk will think JMJ stands for Jimmy Jam… or maybe only the old farts like me know know that one too… I had a slight grin on my face when this album presented itself this morning, as it reminded me of my first CD purchase. Back in the mid ‘80s, when slowly but surely the Compact Disc was starting to enter the mainstream, I visited a record store with a friend of mine. Though my intention was to purchase a record (vinyl), he pointed out to me that digital was were it was at… I forget which record I was going to buy, but I recall finding it in the CD section and proudly carrying it towards the counter so that I could spend some of my hard saved currency, and that was when my friend stopped me and asked to see the case. Turns out that not all CD’s are the same, and that there was this secret code on the back of the CD which would let you know how digital—read: special—the damn thing would be. You see, on one of the bottom corners, on the back of the CD case, you could find a sequence of three letters which was build-up by either D or A, my carefully selected CD was showing AAD, and that, for you who are still reading this, meant that my CD might as well have been a cassette tape as the first A told us the recording was Analog, the second A told us the mixing was Analog, and the last D meant that the mastering was done Digitally. I believe this was called the SPARS code, you can search it online. So what does this have to do with the album we are reviewing today? Well, while I went back to search for a better CD, and ended up purchasing Ship of Fools by Erasure, my friend was proudly holding up his copy of Oxygene by JMJ with the perfect classification of DDD! It wasn’t till the mid ‘90s that I started listening to Oxygene (part 4 mainly, sorry) and was able to appreciate the sonic experience that JMJ. JMJ was the artist who introduced me to ambient music, who made me appreciate works from people like Philip Glass, Enigma, St. Germain, and anything digital really. With time, one can easily accept the fact that this album does not age well, in the sense that you’d need to have an understanding of early electronic music, to appreciate what you are listening to. However, would I rate this album high? I am going to be straight down the middle on this one and stick to the 3*

Dated futurism that still sounds great. This is mind blowing for 76.

This album was pretty good as a background play list. Smooth and melodic.

70s synth instrumentals. Very spacey and innocuous. Easy enough to listen to. I think I would be hard-pressed to distinguish one song from another after one listen. I read somewhere that this was his first album not written specifically for a movie. But some songs ended up in some movie soundtracks so I not sure he met his goal from a practical standpoint.

Badass ambient jams.

One of the true pioneers of the electronic genre.

Meh. Not really my thing. Was pretty interesting though.

Early electronic albums are hard to rate, because while the technological achievements are impressive, they inherently don’t sound impressive in the rearview. Being inventive means you should sound dated pretty soon after you invent something. The best early electronic albums are either rearrangements of other compositions using modern instrumentation [e.g. Clara Rockmore, Wendy Carlos] or so singularly committed to an aesthetic that they could not be replicated exactly again [e.g. Kraftwerk, Pauline Oliveros, Brian Eno]. Beyond that, modern listeners only really want to revisit these early electronic albums if they’re movie scores [again, Wendy Carlos, Delia Derbyshire] or kitsch novelty that was well-made enough to make the gimmick hold up after all these years [e.g. Plantasia]. Oxygène is strange, because it’s none of the above, but it’s also not unlistenable by today’s standards. It’s just…fine. Arguably, I enjoyed it. It never felt like the synth tones sounded so old that they turned into nails in my eardrums, and the sequencing doesn’t feel particularly stiff. I caught myself vibing out to it a lot more than I thought I would. I don’t 100% get the ✨technological advancements✨ going on behind the scenes here, but I can appreciate the value and impact of using both analog and digital synths to make this. It’s clearly well made, and I’m sure it’s compositionally impressive, which makes it valuable. It just doesn’t have any It Factor™️ whatsoever. Nothing here catches my ear; nothing here sticks out. It lacks any hooks or earworms, and it also lacks anything so mind-blowingly technically impressive that you’re left in shock, like a flashy solo or insane tidal wave of beeps and boops. What little aesthetic it does have is pretty basic, unassuming, and even uninteresting. Learning that this sold incredibly well is throwing me for a fucking loop, too! Especially considering that there’s a lot more interesting early electronic albums by women that people still revisit that aren’t on this list, and I feel like sales numbers might be a reason here. It just leaves me a bit grossed out. Jarre does his thing, sure, but I don’t know if that thing is worth revisiting now after he already pushed the medium forward behind the scenes and was able to get his bag and credit at the time. Not that this album sounds bad, but it does sound less than in comparison.

I had only heard Oxygene pt. 4 before, which is really nice. Not everything is quite as catchy, but it's definitely a cool album.

Didn’t do it for me.

haunting and enchanting all at the same time, it's impressive how natural this album all sounded considering it's all synth based, this is a real treat to the ears.

Cool art. Interesting to learn about an electronic pioneer who was so famous to have played at the pyramids of Giza and be highly influential who I've never heard of. Reminds me a lot of Deuter but who took a more Brian Eno approach and later gets a little more hard/proto-EDM. Listened to two more of his albums too.

first listen i understand the historical significance here, but i'd happily take interesting synth music like Tomita over this any day

Very influential cosmic/spacey electronic music from France that still sounds quite futuristic 48 years after its release. Let's just stop for a second and imagine how different it must have sound back in the mid 1970s. A very good listen which I enjoyed a lot.

tolerable music at a trendy art exhibit

Interesting, it started off quite fun and kinda ambient very synth heavy, got to be in a right mood to listen too but I think I was

I can tell good electronic music when I hear it and boy oh boy did I not hear it

It's ok but not much to see here!

01) Oxygene, Pt. 1 - 7,0 02) Oxygene, Pt. 2 - 9,0 03) Oxygene, Pt. 3 - 7,5 04) Oxygene, Pt. 4 - 10,0 05) Oxygene, Pt. 5 - 7,5 06) Oxygene, Pt. 6 - 7,0 TOTAL: 8,00 (80/100) Current ranking: 137/395

Loved this. Even more impressive when you think about it being done in the 70s

at least it was only 40 minutes long...

Why would he do this? Who wanted this? What was the purpose? Where was it supposed to get good? When am I supposed to listen to this? How did it have six songs over forty minutes, yet all felt like it was one five minute song? Is that a good quality? Do I want this to be better or do I want it to have never been made at all? Which would be better? Production was great, though. 2/5

8/10 Fantastic and obviously influential electronic album. As someone who listens to contemporary French electronic music, its influence is still felt. Some of this would be amazing with Odezenne on top of it. Of course I’d heard the big 2 songs on here, but the sonic landscape of the others was really interesting. Cool ambient sounds and textures, almost biological in places Maybe the ratio of interlude/build-up vs propulsive tunes was slightly off Best: Oxygène (Part IV)

Perfect electronic noise!

Oxygène lies somewhere between Tangerine Dream's atmospherics and Karftwerk's danceable electronics.

Pretty crazy that an electronic album like this came out in 1976. It was alright. Could be better if listened to in the proper setting

As a student and DJ back then, there was an affinity for the new and divergent. It's not holding up as well for me as I would have anticipated. Have I been spoiled by what this has inspired? Think so. I keep expecting it to take off, by which I mean find a groove and exploit it. Still has some moments, though. Best when percussive like in Pt. 5.

Excellent jazzy music. Perfect for listening while reading on a train.

I remember when this came out and people went gaga over it. The spectacle and the light shows and the electronica. And I was totally underwhelmed. Sure - the snappily titled oxygene no 4 Is recognisable and sounds like popcorn in a saucepan. Number six sounds like a contemporary version of Ravel’s Bolero But it’s all pretty insipid. I think at the time I was more bowled over That he was married to Charlotte Rampling. I used to wonder if she was as bored by his songs as I was. She seemed to deserve a bit more excitement.

I would like this music if I was at a spa, but I am not at a spa

My thoughts on this evolved as it played, though my star rating didn't. At first, this was like modern art... I can't understand what separates this from the endless hours of ethereal quasi-orchestral ambient compositions that exist. Why is this better than the rest? But as it played as I worked at my desk, it absolutely made that time better, more enjoyable, slightly transformed. And that's pretty powerful. But did I love it? Would I be able to differentiate it from any other similar record? Maybe. Probably not. Like Vangelis (I do like his work a lot), multiple listens will reveal more and make me able to distinguish Jarré's work. But for now, I can't get past the 3.

Yeah, sure. It's pleasant enough. Hard to really have strong feelings either way.

This is the kind of music I would have listened to with my computer nerd male friends, sitting in the basement flipping through their copies of Omni magazine. Maybe I did and that's why it all has a familiar glow? Time and place---spinning this while driving through town on a moody misty night hit just right.

Not my kind of music at all, pretty scarce and repetitive but that's the point. I am surprised by it's age though and I can imagine this being incredibly influential. I think it's at a 2.5 for me where I didn't dislike it but I also wouldn't really listen to it again. Makes me wish I gave that kings of leon album a one though because these two records should not be in the same category.

Not my thing. BUT … I did find it useful as ambient noise while I was trying to finish a painting. I tried to pick a favorite out of the six songs that sounded exactly alike. Failed.

Generally I'm not a great lover of pure electronic music. I don't dislike synths and the like but prefer them with analogue instruments and voice. However this album seems to have been around all my life and just about every track is recognisable either because it was a hit or used for TV programming or adverts. It is also one of the first albums of its genre and certainly made a mark and was a great leap forward in 1976. Even more remarkable is that 1976 was peak punk and at that time this album could have been considered proggy and everything that punk was rebelling against. Luckily JMJ is French a nation who do not follow and which explains why and how this album was ever made in the first place. So for all that this album is an album which I do rate. However as time went on and this genre of music shed its Prog clothes and went on to produce countless duplications of this albums formula, I soon tired of it. In fact the reason why I don't enjoy electronic music is because of the sheer ubiquity of records like this. If this was the only JMJ album ever recorded then it would be an extremely coveted classic and my rating reflects that conclusion. 3/5 5/12/24

I think there wasn't much electronic music in the 70s, so people must have thought that, to sound futuristic, you should have star wars sounds. Nevertheless, if you think that this record is from 1976, it is actually revolutionary. It bored me, unlike some of his later work, but I have to appreciate the creativity involved for those times.

I discovered the music of JMJ while living in France in the 1980s. In my opinion his masterpiece album is Equinoxe. Believe me, the next time you are driving someplace with beautiful scenery, put that album on and feel the majesty of it all. This album predates it though, which is probably why it was selected. Music that you really need to sink into. Close your eyes, let it take you on a journey. It was ahead of its time, definitely deserves a listen.

Encore un album que je connaissais sans connaitre. C’est beaucoup plus ”ambient” que je pensais. Il n’y a quasiment que deux titres qui se détachent, et ce sont effectivement ceux qui sont connus (Pt. 2 et surtout Pt. 4). Le reste est plus constitué de nappes de musique planante, avec par moment une grosse influence de Kraftwerk et leur “Morgenspaziergang”. La Pt. 3 est très sympa. En 1976, écouter ça en vinyl sur un vieux tourne disque qui crachote, en portant un sous pull en acrylique orange, ça devait quand même faire un drôle d’effet et paraître assez irréel comme son.

I mean, it's legendary stuff and pretty crazy to think that it's nearly 50 years old as it still gives off futuristic sound vibes.

A strange journey into the mind.

bathing in a bubble bath of bits and bytes. feels like taking a power washer to my brain

A strong 4! Very cool sound

WOW. J'avais jamais entendu parler de cet album-là auparavant, malgré la qualité qui se trouve sous le capot. Une sorte de musique électro à la Kraftwerk, couplé d'une prestance symphonique qui varie de la lourdeur dramatique d'un grand orchestre à la légèreté planante d'un smooth solo jazz au piano. Magnifico, si je puis me permettre.

Moody and spacey and atmospheric. But am I going to listen to an entire album of this? No

I assume this is what the future sounded like in 1976

This is so much my jam I feel like it was pulled straight out of my head. My standouts: Part 2, Part 3, Part 5

funky spooky groovy

This is basically one long electronic/synth track. Impressive for the time when synthesizers were starting to become a focal point in the music industry, and even more impressive given the makeshift home recording studio used to create this album. Very atmospheric and probably requires multiple listens to fully appreciate (or fully hate depending on the crowd). Music that you hear when you think of space and the great beyond.

This remained me of the film Fantastic Planet and Plantasia. Very 70s electronic yet captivating. I enjoyed this very much.

Eletrônico da década de 70. Interessante.

## In-Depth Review of *Oxygène* by Jean-Michel Jarre Jean-Michel Jarre's *Oxygène*, released in December 1976, is a landmark album in the realm of electronic music. Its innovative use of synthesizers and soundscapes not only defined a genre but also influenced countless artists in the decades that followed. This review delves into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its lasting impact on the music industry. ### ****Music and Production *Oxygène* is primarily an instrumental album, composed of six parts that flow seamlessly into one another. The music is characterized by: - **Synthesizer Innovation**: Jarre employed various synthesizers, including the ARP 2600 and the EMS Synthi AKS, to create a rich tapestry of sounds. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Jarre did not attempt to mimic traditional instruments; instead, he embraced the unique qualities of electronic sounds, which contributed to the album's distinctive character. - **Minimalist Approach**: The album was recorded on a limited budget using a home studio setup. Jarre's minimalist approach is evident in the sparse arrangements and the use of tape-loop effects. This simplicity allowed for a focus on texture and atmosphere rather than complexity. - **Dynamic Soundscapes**: Each track features evolving motifs and layers that create a sense of movement. The use of sequencers to develop rhythmic patterns is reminiscent of the Berlin School style pioneered by groups like Tangerine Dream. However, Jarre’s compositions are notable for their organic feel and emotional depth. - **Production Techniques**: The album’s production was groundbreaking for its time. Jarre utilized techniques such as filtering and layering to create depth within each track. The sounds were meticulously crafted to ensure that no two notes were identical, giving life to even the most repetitive sequences[1][3]. ### ****Themes Thematically, *Oxygène* explores concepts related to nature, existence, and humanity’s relationship with technology: - **Environmental Consciousness**: The album cover art, created by Michel Granger, features a haunting image of Earth with its crust peeled back to reveal a skull. This visual metaphor speaks to themes of mortality and environmental degradation, suggesting a deep concern for the planet’s future. - **Human Experience**: Each part of *Oxygène* can be interpreted as an exploration of human emotions and experiences. The sweeping synths evoke feelings ranging from tranquility to existential dread, creating an auditory journey that mirrors life's complexities. - **Technological Reflection**: By embracing electronic music, Jarre reflects on humanity's increasing reliance on technology. The juxtaposition of natural sounds with synthetic tones creates a dialogue about progress and its implications for human existence[2][4]. ### ****Lyrics While *Oxygène* is primarily instrumental, it does incorporate some vocal elements. However, these are sparse and often treated as additional layers rather than focal points: - **Vocal Samples**: The few vocal snippets present are heavily processed and serve more as atmospheric elements than traditional lyrics. This choice reinforces the album's emphasis on sound over words. - **Absence of Conventional Lyrics**: The lack of conventional lyrics allows listeners to interpret the music personally without being guided by specific narratives or themes. This freedom enhances the immersive experience that *Oxygène* offers[2][3]. ### ****Influence The influence of *Oxygène* on electronic music cannot be overstated: - **Pioneering Electronic Music**: Often credited with leading the synthesizer revolution of the 1970s, *Oxygène* has inspired numerous artists across genres. Its melodic hooks and innovative sound design have been referenced by musicians ranging from Moby to contemporary electronic acts[4]. - **Cultural Impact**: The album not only achieved commercial success—selling over 12 million copies—but also established Jarre as a prominent figure in electronic music. Its tracks have been used in various media contexts, including film soundtracks and therapeutic settings. - **Legacy**: Over the years, *Oxygène* has been revisited through sequels such as *Oxygène 7–13* (1997) and *Oxygène 3* (2016), showcasing its enduring relevance in Jarre's oeuvre and the broader musical landscape[3][4]. ### ****Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Innovative Sound Design**: The use of synthesizers in novel ways set new standards for electronic music production. - **Timeless Quality**: Despite its age, *Oxygène* maintains a fresh sound that resonates with contemporary audiences. - **Emotional Depth**: The ability to convey complex emotions without traditional lyrics showcases Jarre's artistry. #### Cons - **Repetitive Elements**: Some listeners may find certain motifs overly repetitive or simplistic over extended listening sessions. - **Niche Appeal**: As an instrumental album, it may not appeal to those who prefer lyrical content or more conventional song structures. - **Dated Production Techniques**: While innovative at its release, some production methods may feel dated compared to modern standards in electronic music[1][2][3]. ### Conclusion In summary, Jean-Michel Jarre's *Oxygène* stands as a monumental work in electronic music history. Its innovative approach to sound design, thematic depth, and cultural impact solidify its status as a cornerstone of the genre. While it may present challenges for some listeners due to its minimalist structure and lack of traditional lyrics, its ability to evoke emotion and provoke thought ensures that it remains relevant today. As both a product of its time and a timeless piece of art, *Oxygène* continues to inspire new generations of musicians and listeners alike.

4.25

Okay background music but not very interesting. It was probably great for the time but now that electronic music has progressed so much it seems boring. 3/10

In middle school I watched a lot of British stand up comedy DVDs. One of them was a Bill Bailey special with a lot of musical bits. In one of them he sampled himself saying "Jean Michelle Jare is a fraud. I never knew who that was until this album came up. So thank you 1001 Album Club, for answering a question I've had for many years. I listened to this in the shower, and it was excellent shower music. I'm giving it 4 stars for shower excellence. In most other contexts it would probably be a 3, but that was a really peaceful and bubbly sounding shower. I still don't know why he's a fraud though. Album cover: (A-) Cheesy but very rad.

I am having a nice relaxing morning listening to laser pew pew sounds in Oxygene Pt 2. Oxygene Pt 5 sounded a lot like a videogame soundtrack in the back half. This album blended into one long electronic song. I liked it but no part really stood out to me. It was enjoyable background music but nothing for me to get excited about. 6/10 The album cover is really sick, I give it an A.

My favourite French electronica album of all time

3.0 The more the album went on the more I got into some of the melodies and grooves. The beep-bob synth noises are definitely starting to age but 1976 what do you expect. I will give it another go at some point

Great background music, the album ended and something else started without me even realizing.

There is a word 'Retrofuturistic' which refers to something designed to look futuristic from the perspective of the past based on what was considered futuristic at that time. That's the gambit of trying to be futuristic, if you predict correct, you're a visionary, but if you predict wrong it can come off as horribly tacky. This album does that. It sounds great for the 70s it's super clean and clear. It's calming and soothing but ultimately it's not the sound that most Electronic music fans are into. This sounds like video game music, or nature documentary music, or minecraft youtuber music. It's not bad but it's so squeaky clean it feels like an AI could have made it. I think the album is impressive for the time, but it comes off as generic and boring in {Current Year}.

Kinda spooky.

I absolutely loved this and I had never heard of this guy before. It’s pure synth fantasia, evolving from soundscapes to recognizable popular song structure then devolving back again in to a soundscape and experimental manipulation for the ending. I didn’t want it to end. Some of the “high level” solo tracking sounds the tiniest bit dated, I can’t figure out why but it does, but that doesn’t take away from it. To think this was made in 1976, it’s incredible. This could come out today on a niche label and you wouldn’t even have to label it “retro”. I need the vinyl for this yesterday.

This sounds like the background music when something weird happens in Are You Afraid of the Dark. Pretty chill.

4.5☆/5 11.07.2024

Didn’t enjoy as much as I expected

I'm staring at the year of this album in utter disbelief

Strange and kind of creepy. But I liked it

Soundtrack to either an alien abduction or a day at the aquarium. Either way, Oxygen is an appropriate title for these songs.

What a treat. It still sounds good today; albeit dated, but in a good way. You really can see how this album influenced much of the electronic music in the 80s and possibly into the 90s.

This was a hard decision between a 1 and 2. Was it as unenjoyable as other 1 stars? probably not. Would I ever listen to it again... probably not. Just an background album with nothing really happening.

This album is just a single song of classic ambient sounds (i.e. space lasers). I get why some people might like it, but I don’t particularly.

I mean I guess it’s technically good for just electronic synth noises? This kinda music makes me think of that Friends episode where Ross thinks he’s this amazing artist at playing the electric keyboard.

It kinda reminded me of the PlayStation introduction song. Kewl and fun to be on the list, but I don’t feel as if it’s particularly groundbreaking. Something fun to have in the background when you’re exploring space.

Part one reminded me of the Stranger Things theme song a little bit. It was chill, probably gonna play it in my classroom during independent work. Who knows what teenagers will think. Dope album art.

I want to wait until sundown, smoke a fat J, get into my buddies old Lexus SUV, turn off all of the interior lights, and "spaceship" across the country while listening to this album.

I like on song on here, but the only reason is nostalgia. The rest of it is like fake cheese...the tube variety.

This is totally not fair, but the overall effect of the way this sounds and the way JMJ presented himself is next level corny, haha. But for real, I love that JMJ likes synths and I'm glad he found a large audience.

If that album is the only source of oxygen, then I'll rather suffocate.

This was unexpectedly awesome. I feel like I've listened to this before. I listen to a lot of ambient/frequency type music and I'm sure Spotify would've recommended this to me. But this is really perfect for walking the dog around the block, before the sun's up and having coffee.

Classic.

Soothing, ambient music that belongs more in a new age spa than my music collection. But reading about what a heck of a guy the composer is inspires me to round this up from a 2 to a 3. That is my act of humanitarianism for the day. You’re welcome.

Might be a good meditation album, except for the lasers.

It's fine. Sounds like a movie soundtrack. Good background music, I suppose?

I can appreciate that the soundscape is incredible. However there is nothing else to this so it rather becomes background music Part 4 remembers to bring a melody and is consequently the only memorable bit

Taking into account that this is an album released in 1976, it is revolutionary and pioneer. If I was to rate the record at its release it would probably be a 5-star. I can't give it that much now, as there is a lot better electronica out there. I love the ambient parts and that makes me rate the record highly. But the sound of the melodies let me down a bit. This album synthesizes (yes, it's on purpose) a dream of mine, which is having analog Moogs and experimenting with them.

Alrighty then

If this music was playing in a store I would immediately turn around and leave

Love this album, like Scott says it needs a sound system to do it justice. Killer album and remember watching the live show years ago on council telly :)

Don't rate this based on listening through a crappy little Amazon Echo device. Needs a decent system to do it justice.

This is different, it’s imaginative, it’s cool, it’s creepy. It’s art, this is a ride through space. Very Pink Floyd esque. My son will love falling asleep to this

Elektronische Musik, Synthesizer Oxygene 4 ist ziemlich bekannt

Good vibe

Oxygen Part III is too slow but I almost like the rest of the album

Honestly, super relaxing.

Random noises

7/10

dang. what a vibe.

I mean... Sure? Part 4 was recognisable to me and the rest was broadly nice ambience but I didn't feel like it's what I'd ever go for in a record. Judging by the age, this was a gamechanger, but it didn't connect to me today! Not offensive in the slightest though

Beautiful range of sounds, I feel like it is a beautiful test of all functions of headphones. Feels like a massage for the brain.

Love that ‘70’s synth!! Fantastic display of ‘70’s analogue synth. Perhaps a little ahead of its time and clearly and influence on LCD Sound System

yeah!!!

I hate electronic music

You're watching Adventure Call! My name is Falconhoof, and I will be your guide on your quest!

I've seen this album's cover on the list challenges page where I log the albums I've listened to, and this cover was so intriguing that I had to pull up the Wikipedia page for the album. I read that it was an electronic/ambient album, and since then, I've been really excited to get to review this album. I'm hoping it can live up to the lofty expectations that I've set for it! Unfortunately, this album didn't live up to the expectations I had for it, and that's on me for building up anticipation for it for probably over a year. Oops. Even though this album wasn't a five-star album for me, I really enjoyed it, and it was great to listen to for the impact and influence its had on popular music. I really love synth pop music, and I imagine that if it weren't for this album, some of my favorite pieces of music may not exist. Each song felt like its own little journey, and those little journeys added up to a pilgrimage through electronic music. This album was beautiful, and after listening to it twice today, I think it's worthy of even more repeat listens. My biggest beef with it is that it left me wanting more elements to be present to the overall sound, and at more than a few occasions, some of it felt like background music. This was still a great album though, and I'm glad I finally got to check it off of my list.

Cool album cover

i love this, what a weird and wonderful collection of synths

Easy listen Nice Pleasant Great background Low 3

Important album -

Nice surprise.

Atmospheric and chill. Definitely enjoyed the entire album. Perfect for a long car ride, to me at least.

Whenever I get albums like this, stuff I deem "ambience music", I think about in what context would listening to this make sense. Because while it's not unpleasant, I don't think I'd ever just play this to listen to casually. It reminds me the soundtrack to an indie game I played called Cult of the Lamb. In which, the music was very fitting. I think in a similar vein, a movie/show/game soundtrack context is appropriate. I can also see the argument for this as study music although it's not quite rhythmic enough to tick that box for me. Overall it was interesting but I probably won't ever listen to it again.

Ethereal, mind bending, and innovative. Oxygene (along with Equinox) is Jean-Michel Jarre's most famous work and most enduring. It is a swirling mass of tones, melodies, and beats and represents one of the critical peices of 70s electronica. It's effect on later techno, electronica, new age, and, especially, stoned college students is vast. Oxygene is an amazing work when you want to expand your mind and chill your soul.

Too weird for me. It sounds like it would be the backing track for an animated film that I didn't understand.

This album was ground breaking at the time, and a massive influence on modern electronic music. Trance music in particular has a large debt to pay for the ambient sounds Jean Michel brought to the world. However, it's also a bit dull and the main themes are overplayed. I enjoyed it a lot, but I can't give it more than 3 stars.

The start of something great?

The rest of my listening group didn't like this much but I put it on while I was working and it was awesome 'background' noise. It is spacey and fluid but also still musical and not just droning noise.

Well it’s a pioneering album. Sampled over and over. Truly ahead of its time. Probably won’t need it until I NEED IT 4/5

Definitely ahead of its time

Atmospheric!

a solid enough early electronic album. i enjoyed the soundscape here, but really i don't have a lot to say here. it was pleasant, it sounded nice, it really gave me nothing beyond that.

Amazing! This is one of the albums that has made slogging through all the crap on this list worth it.

Interesting and mysterious. I liked it

I LOVE Jean-Michel Jarre! To think that this was crafted in 1976, pre-digital, pre-ProTools. It's an awesome album, although it's not my favorite Jarre album. I was going to give this a 5, but I think that would be for the artist and not the album, so for consistency in my rating, it's a solid 4. This dude is still active and producing awesome albums. His concerts are definitely worth a watch on YouTube! I'm back - fuck consistency!

This was the perfect album for all the driving around I did Thursday! Very chill and loved most* of the early electronica sounds (*it got a bit annoying in bits, but you have to hand to to Jarre for creating an entire new genre of music!). I'd only listened to 1 track from this album previously, but I have a a soft spot for both early electronica and french electronic music - so this was an enjoyable listen! I imagine it would have been cool to listen to through headphones, staring up at the sky, in a field of flowers, smoking a cigarette with a pain au chocolate in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other - maybe one day!

Absolutely love this synth stuff, great music and sounds a bit like Mamman Sani my love

fantastic

Lives up to its name: light as air and supremely relaxing. Really beautiful.

Boring, cheesy, ambient synth music. The first track had a bit that sounded suspiciously like Steve Miller's Fly Like an Eagle, which came out a few months earlier. This album may have been ahead of its time in 1976, I don't know. Maybe it influenced some people (John Carpenter?), but it doesn't do much for me in 2024.

I was traumatised by the penguins in Part IV's video, I saw it too often. Better than I remembered

A classic album, great artwork. Been a staple for years. Stoked to pull this for a lazy Sunday morning listen. 5 stars always.

One review warned not to be a dummy like them, listen to this at night, not day. It's a night album. I was a dummy. I'll give it another go some night. I really liked Pt. 3, and there were other moments throughout where I'd start to get into it a but more, but I didn't love the album. I respect the influence it has had, though.

To me, there are two aesthetics to this album: An old sci-fi movie soundtrack and songs that I would play in the background in my '70s futuristic city apartment tricked out with all the weird impractical furniture they had back then that we now put in modern art museums. The music mostly consists of individual notes played on a synth along with all the "space" sound effects they could come up with. So it's not that interesting, but it is definitely a vibe.Also, why are all the French albums here some kind of ambient or otherwise fringe genre?

next time I am in an interstellar movie I will know how to set the mood

I'm sure this is influential and I'm glad I know about it, but definitely not for me.

experimental electronic/ambient. Loved it

Inspiring and otherworldly.

More than any other album I’ve listened to here so far, this is truly “one thing”. Wasn’t sure what to expect at first, but ended up liking it. Will definitely listen to again at night with a J in hand.

This was alright to be fair! Rather enjoyable ambient electronic music!

When I brought my first serious stereo in the late '70's Oxygene 4 was the go-to track all the salesmen used to show off their kit's prowess. Been off my radar for decades now so it's great to see the whole album holding up so well. A timeless masterpiece that needs to be listened to through top quality headphones to do it justice.

French Ambiance? What is this, the Olympics? If only this had come out a few weeks ago, but either way I can't pass up an ambient album. Especially one with a skull over the earth. Unfortunately, the songs do tend to blend together, both by design and sonically. I went to random portions of each song and they all had the same tunes at times. An eerie haunted house type vibe which I dug! But it still leans towards repetitive if you're focused on it. As background music it was great.

Never heard of this artist but this album is great! Awesome instrumental stuff, reminds me of those '70s giallo films, a few of these tracks sound like they could've been in Suspiria, and that's a huge compliment! More like this please, and less milquetoast copy-paste rock BS. Favorite tracks: Pt. 2, 3, 6. Album art: A skull emerging from the globe, the Earth's surface peeling away like skin. Really, really dope. 4/5

Weird but cool

Yay for synths. Very soothing. Not terribly exciting.

Ah this took me back. I remember the first time I heard it (part 4 at any rate) and being absolutely enthralled and it got a pretty good airing when JMJ played Docklands when I was at Uni. Love it.

Good and wooshy.

Enjoyable for sure. Parts of it were familiar to me already, especially Part 4, but also some of the more ambient parts as backing music in Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy. Part 6 as well sounds very modern, with sounds I associate with contempory artists.

Pretty futuristic dude! I actually enjoyed this reasonably well. I had a bunch of boring data entry to do and this was fun background music for it. Not something I'd really put on in a normal setting but pretty chill and solid bg music.

I have a personal fond memory of Jean-Michel Jarre. I was at a Fuck Buttons gig in Paris, with a friend who often worked in the venue where the Scottish electronic powerhouse duo was playing that day. Thanks to my friend, we stayed in the venue after the show, and as we hung around next to the small stage sipping beer, I noticed that a man was chatting there with one of the Fuck Buttons guys, just as the latter was unplugging his pedals and putting away his miscellaneous gear in flycases (don't remember if the Fuck Buttons guy was Andrew Hung or Benjamin John Power). I couldn't hear what the visitor was saying, but he sure looked enthused to be there, pointing at this or that electronic device and asking questions about them. At times, it felt like he was explaining how he used said device himself. Or maybe he was just pointing out how such and such electronic gizmo had created such a great sound for one of the tracks played during the show... The Fuck Buttons guy was smiling, and nodded politely the whole time. But he didn't talk much, busy as he was. You could sense that he was flattered by the youthful enthusiasm of his interlocutor, even if it was not exactly the right time to chew the fat with him. It was as if an uncle of his had paid him a visit, and he was doing his best to make that endearing uncle feel at ease, even if he had other concerns in his mind at that exact moment... After a while, I realized I knew who the man was. He looked like he was in his forties, yet in truth, he was much older than that. And as a lot of French people know, Jean-Michel Jarre is one of those individuals who seem to age very slowly, having that eternally youthful outward appearance that makes one suspect of vampiric qualities. My friend confirmed the man was Jarre indeed, probably in Fuck Buttons' guest list that night. Honestly, it was refreshing to see an artist who was in his sixties by that time express such enthusiasm for being at a small show given by an act from a generation far younger than his. Jarre's music lost its relevance a long time ago, yet if you read stuff about his latest albums, you soon discover that a lot of younger prestigious guests populate some of them (like Fuck Buttons indeed, but also Air, M83, Gesaffelstein, Massive Attack's 3D, or even Moby...). Given the currently small commercial impact of those rather confidential records, I'm pretty sure that the presence of those guests mostly stems from a very sincere knack for collaborations of all kinds, instead of any cynical calculation to boost album sales or personal rep, whether for the guests or for the host. During the eighties, Jarre was yet in another league of musicians. He would famously give some mega-concerts worldwide, which were desperate-yet-also-hugely-successful attempts to translate such nerdy aesthetics into rock arenas. Heck, even arenas were too small for Jarre's ambitions, hence why he routinely broke insane records when it came to the number of people attending the shows. You had all sorts of insane stuff happening during those mega-shows--Jarre grabbing a "synth-guitar", gigantic screens, loads of pyrotechnics, not to mention that crazy staging for his "laser harp" that saw rays of light cross one side of the pit to the next. Nice that decades after those grandiose shows aiming at being "popular" at all cost, the man was now seemingly more in touch with what up-and-coming electronic acts were doing, and that he even went to small venues to see them do their thing. It's a stance that appeared as being miles away from what he had accomplished during the first fifteen years of his career under his name--even if said later stance probably never yielded anything as arresting and wonderfully poetic as Jarre's official 1976 debut *Oxygène* (in spite of attempts to release "sequels" to it in the 21st century). The seventies were a golden age for precursors in the field of electronic music. You had German kosmische wizards such as Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Cluster, Neu! or Kraftwerk. You also had Brian Eno's "ambient" series. But what set Jean-Michel Jarre apart from all of them was his impulse to create so many memorable and straightforward melodies surging from his cold analog magma. Kraftwerk admittedly had a knack for innocent-sounding melodies as well--ones you could even hum in the shower--but theirs always had pastiche overtones that Jarre didn't seem interested in. In *Oxygène* you can sense some more immediate, and less conceptual endeavor at play. And if that earnestness was criticized as naive by the UK press at the time of the album's release, this mix of *naïveté* and avant-garde leanings is, retrospectively--and quite ironically--what makes the album sound like no other one today, even within Jarre's discography. Those criticisms were valid in the sense that they predicted the artistic dead-ends and many cheesefest "commercial" turns the French musician would be known for later. Yet those early critics totally missed what *Oxygène* was doing so well within the confines Jarre had set for himself--somewhere in the uncharted haze between Pierre Schaeffer's *musique concrète* and blatantly pop ambitions. And what it was doing so well was to create the rarest of animal: truly timeless music acting as a perfect bridge between the past and the future. In a way, Jarre very much acted as a "remixer" here. Not through literal remixes--mid-seventies gear would never have allowed him to create them anyway--but through his compositional work. A lot of his ideas indeed hearken back to Bach, Beethoven, Mahler or Debussy--that dark and solemn "orchestral" climax soaring above arid soundscapes towards the end of "Part 1" ; the very animated Bach-like fugue in fantastic album highlight "Part 2" ; the slow, 'andante' introduction of "Part 5", followed by that livelier section, where, for that particular round, the melody winks at Ravel's "Bolero". There are also forays into subliminally jazzier territories--best exemplified by the latin-tinged drum machine and its cheap rendition of rhumba and bossa-nova rhythms on "Part 6", whose "breathing" sound also ends the album on a note that's disturbingly ominous, and yet also soothing somehow. Equally ominous are the impressionistic synth spikes darting the bulk of *Part 1*, over which a spooky shrill whistle hovers like a lonesome bat in the twilight, reminding you of a theremin or Ondes Martenot. In keeping with Michel Granger's iconic artwork for the album, the mood is delightfully post-apocalyptic here. It aptly illustrates the impressions of the last scattered batch of humans living in a emptied, dilapidated earth where nature would slowly regain its rights at last. The obvious ecological message hasn't aged a day, it goes without saying--even if it's conveyed by a music that's 100% instrumental. Synth layers and echo-drenched immensities sure abound, but they're also telling a very relatable story, one as epic as it can be heartbreaking if it falls in the right set of ears. Something very "human" after all... "Part 3", which is one of the most famous Jarre compositions, is where all the different influences and leads listed up there mesh into a single whole, with a minor-keyed tune which is as melancholic as it is strangely light-hearted, and whose simplicity and "humanity" is at odds with the background plastic-sounding gloss, here propelled by that distinctive airy drum machine--grinding, enticing, and delicate all at the same time. Here is the sort of balance between naive-sounding compositional work and richly flavored soundscapes Jarre would rarely attain in his subsequent releases--except for subsequent LP *Equinoxe*, for all intents and purposes a perfect follow-up to *Oxygène*... Starting with 1981's *The Magnetic Fields*, the French composer--now turned into an star as he went through the delusions of grandeur that his massive concerts were--indeed often stumbled upon interesting-yet-ultimately-flawed experiments with different "world music" styles (the *My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts*-adjacent *Zoolook*, incidentally boasting a groundbreaking use of samples and sequencers, or later *En Attendant Cousteau*). Worse, he also frequently dived headfirst into grand statements where European classical music influences took over again, unfortunately yielding albums that managed to sound both annoyingly pompous and incredibly childish and hackneyed at the same time (*Rendez Vous*, *Revolutions*...). Some listeners with a knack for cheap psychoanalysis would even argue that this second trend was a way for Jarre to compete with his estranged father, Hollywood film composer Maurice Jarre... But there's no need to act like a two-cent shrink here. What matters is that 90% of all this has aged *horribly*, period. Yet now that the dreadful eighties period of Jarre's discography is long gone, I hope many listeners with an open mind and an interest in great electronic music will discover *Oxygène* again. The kitchen-sink approach Jarre used to record his debut (sellotape was reportedly used to fix inadequate or partly-broken instruments), born out of constraints stemming from the technological limits of the time period rather than anything else, unwittingly brought a sonic palette that's as effective today as it was in 1976. The now "retro" canvas (or, should I say, the *pre-retro-futuristic* canvas) even bring *more* melancholic emotions to an album that was already filled to the brim with them. If anything, *Oxygène* sounds better in 2024 than it originally did. Surely, that rare occurence guarantees a place for it in a list of the best albums of all time, doesn't it? Number of albums left to review: 91 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 392 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 228 Albums from the list I certainly won't include in mine: 289

I don’t know- there’s something strange relaxing and oddly familiar in this album.

Meh. I didn't hate it and made it through.

Listening to this is like being stuck on Space Mountain, in the dark, right before the ride is about to actually start. The music (effectively) sets a tone, and gets you ready for *something*, anything, to happen, but it never does.

Wow, no album has ever made me feel like I’m in line for Space Mountain quite like this one

Was pretty good and enjoyable chill music. You already know I saved this to the reading/focus playlist