JMJ Re-Oxygene
Posted by: liam on 07 November 2007
Jean-Michel Jarre is one of the true pioneers of electronic music. Thirty years ago, his debut album: 'Oxygene' took the world by surprise, not only because of the fact that the electronic music genre had never taken off in this way before, but also because of its audacious album cover art-work. With 'Oxygene, Jarre had created a simply structured, melodic musical style and panoramic sound that brought with it a breath of fresh air, capturing the attention of the masses, and it remains today a benchmark in contemporary music history. 'Oxygene' has sold over 12 million copies worldwide since its release in 1977. December 2007 sees the 30th anniversary of the creation of 'Oxygene' - Its universally renowned signature melody and visionary artwork have ensured the timelessness and value of this concept-album.
We live in times where music has become a major player in global life-style, where music is omni-present wherever we are, where music is available at the touch of a button, where music is massively consumed and sadly sometimes short-lived, this record company thought it opportune and timely to celebrate 'Oxygene' and its eternal singularity and universality, with its premonitory environmental message that has recently become the centre of global attention.
True to his spirit of creating an event out of all he does, Jarre decided to unearth his collection of vintage synthesizers and perform his original masterpiece 'live' for a new master recording that would be mixed & mastered using High Definition 24-Bit/96KHz technology. Having unearthed the collection of mythical instruments he had hoarded over the years (and forgotten about in some cases) from the depths of his garage, he decided to film his 'live' performance of 'Oxygene' in HD and in stereoscopic 3D with optional Dolby Digital 5.1 sound or PCM Stereo.
The Stereoscopic 3D video and Surround Sound gives the unique impression of being right there next to Jean-Michel and his instruments while seated in your living room chair. For the performance, three other musicians accompanied Jarre: Francis Rimbert, Claude Samard and Dominique Perrier, as the original masterpiece requires eight hands for a 'live' performance. It was played totally 'live' in just one take, without tape or hard-disk playback. The 'live' performance includes twenty minutes of brand new material. The ELimited Edition version of this set includes two pairs of 3D Glasses to bring the 3D visuals to life.
Available in 3 formats cd, cd 2dvd, cd 3dvd.
Posted on: 07 November 2007 by Bob McC
I once travelled on a coach to Fez in Morocco with Oxygene playing over and over again on the coach speakers. At times the sky and sand appeared to blend into the same shade of red and the resultant visual and auditory sensory deprivation bordered on torture.
Posted on: 07 November 2007 by liam
not a fan then bob!
Posted on: 07 November 2007 by BigH47
What about Popcorn by Hot Butter in 1969? Must have been one of the first Moog hit records.
Not quite the same class as JMJ though.
Posted on: 07 November 2007 by ewemon
Karlheinz Stockhausen (born August 22, 1928) is a German composer, and one of the most important and controversial composers of the 20th century (Barret 1988, 45; Harvey 1975b, 705; Hopkins 1972, 33; Klein 1968, 117; Power 1990, 30). He is best known for his ground-breaking work in electronic music and controlled chance in serial composition.
His first piece of electronica was Electronic Studies recorded in '53-'54.
Posted on: 08 November 2007 by BigH47
quote:
His first piece of electronica was Electronic Studies recorded in '53-'54.
Heard by how many? I can only imagine what his electronic noise was like.
Posted on: 08 November 2007 by Guido Fawkes
Sorry - I know little of JMJ - haven't got any of his records.
To me the pioneer of electronic music was the wonderful
Delia Derbyshire - nobody did it better - OK so you have never heard of her, but you all (and I mean all) know a tune by her - please play it for yourself
here on the radiophonatron - you're very own on-line synthesiser.
First electronic music hit that was
Telstar by the Tornados - what a great record.
Please click here to be transported back to happier times with Joe Meek's 1963 classic.
Of course, we have electronic albums like
White Noise - an Electric Storm by Delia Derbyshire with David Vorhaus (see
here)
The great consistent electronic music comes from those two German stalwarts - Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk.
However, a pioneering album was
Tonto's Expanding Head Band by Tonto's Expanding Head Band conceived by two Grammy-winning musicians and sound designers: Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff. TONTO is an acronym for "The Original New Timbral Orchestra": the world's first (and still the largest) multitimbral polyphonic analog synthesizer, designed and constructed by Malcolm Cecil. This is all on
Wikipedia for those interested. I leave it to munch for a review .... but I really like TONTO.
So apologies - I'm not up on JMJ, but some stuff above that may interested those who are interested.
Posted on: 08 November 2007 by BigH47
quote:
I bet there will be a large post here when Rotf see's this thread.
Howard the very first no1 record in the UK with a Moog was Son of my father by Chicory Tip a band from Maidstone in Kent.
Liam thanks for the heads up.
Munch
Didn't know that I thought that was another Stylophone jobbie.
There was electronic "music" on Forbidden Planet 1956 starring Leslie Nielsen in a "straight" role, ie not intentionally funny as opposed to not gay.
Posted on: 08 November 2007 by Guido Fawkes
The first pop song use of Moog that I know of was by Micky Dolenz of the Monkees on their wonderful and highly underrated album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. Mickey plays the synthesizer on Daily Nightly.
Another track of the album, Star Collector has Paul Beaver playing the Moog. Paul Beaver was of course the Beaver in Beaver and Krause.
Posted on: 08 November 2007 by steved
Munch,
Funny you should mention Chicory Tip. I remember the first time I heard this on the radio, and was absolutely blown away by the Moog "riff" in the middle of the song. On the very rare occasions the song gets airtime these days, I still look forward to it.
Steve D
Posted on: 08 November 2007 by Pete
For ages I thought the riff on SomF was a Stylophone! <sidles off and collects coat...>
Pete.
Posted on: 08 November 2007 by Guido Fawkes
IIRC correctly nobody in Chicory Tip knew how to play the Moog and it was engineer and producer Chris Thomas who did the honours.
So it wasn't a stylophone as popularised by Rolf Harris and immortalised by David Bowie on Space Oddity (what ever happened to him?).
Anyway
here are the Tip and sounding pretty good too.
Posted on: 08 November 2007 by BigH47
After seeing the video it looked like nobody knew how to play any of the instruments.
Loved the RadioPhonaTron always wanted to "do" my own Dr Who music.
Posted on: 09 November 2007 by J.N.
Thanks for the info Liam. It's an old favourite of mine. For those who are not aware, JMJ is the son of
Maurice Jarre - also a composer of note.
John.
Posted on: 09 November 2007 by JWM
Oxygene was the first LP I ever bought, aged 12.
Posted on: 09 November 2007 by Guido Fawkes
I think their downfall was Cigarettes, Women & Wine which the BBC banded because they felt it would have a bad influence; the hits seemed to dry up after that ..... was Peter the one who joined Edison Lighthouse?
Posted on: 09 November 2007 by ewemon
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
quote:
His first piece of electronica was Electronic Studies recorded in '53-'54.
Heard by how many? I can only imagine what his electronic noise was like.
Honestly - tonal crap
Posted on: 10 November 2007 by Nick Lees
Now, no sniggering at the back...
You've missed out a vital link in the chain - Raymond Scott. Perhaps better known as a jazz composer and band leader who provided soundtracks for Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, in the 50's he began to invent synthesisers and compose for them. One of Robert Moog's early jobs was as a designer of sub-assemblies for Scott.
The early stuff is fairly primitive but easily distinguishable as the building blocks for the Radiophonic Workshop lot and others. Check out a couple of samples on the
Myspace Site.
In the early 60s he used his kit to record three seminal albums: Soothing Sounds For Baby, Volumes 1-3.
Check them out on Amazon - the first album in particular has some lovely stuff on it.
Also in the mix is Morton Subotnick, and American electronic pioneer whose Silver Apples Of The Moon and The Wild Bull, recorded using a synth of his own, are quite stunning. On the surface his music is quite challenging (ewemon beware!) as there isn't much by way of traditional tunes here, but the overall effect is quite enthralling in a way I simply can't adequately begin to describe (and I'm partial to a bit of tune in my music).
If anyone's interested I could rip a bit and demonstrate...
Posted on: 10 November 2007 by Voltaire
Imho, Equinoxe & Concerts In China are his best work.
Anyone who saw his concerts in Docklands and Houston has no doubt of his talent.
I always doubted the laser harp though?
Posted on: 12 November 2007 by Chris Kelly
Back to the actual topic! Amazon.co.uk have just reduced the price to £14.99 from £17.99.
Posted on: 18 November 2007 by nap-ster
3D DVD "Live in your Living Room: Supplied with 2 pairs of 3D glasses........interesting.
