Artist: Jean Michel Jarre
P: 2003 / 2018
This is not a regular new studio album, but a sideproject Jarre composed for the famous VIP Club on Champs Elysees in Paris. The idea was to compose the "soundtrack for a club" and the result is jazzotronica, where free-form jazz, classical, techno, lounge music, ambient and musique concrete blends into an album never before heard from Jean Michel Jarre.
Here's the (quick) track by track breakdown:
Pleasure Principle
A slow orchestral string melody backed by atmospheric sound effects, voice samples and wind-effects. I think this track is very beautiful but could perhaps worked better as a finale. 8/10
Geometry of Love Part 1
Midtempo song centred around a drumpattern and an improvised-style lead, like those Magnetic Fields 1 intros we have heard in recent years. Still a jazzy feeling, and better than part 2, because it doesnt have the cheesy voice arpeggio. Nice synth lead, but the overall impression isnt much. 5/10
Soul Intrusion
Space effects, a hypnotic sequencer pattern and Ron's Piece-ish "star sounds" opens this track, which develops with drums and the GOL trademark piano lead, which is more the improvised style than a traditional JMJ melody. Remove the piano and the track would have been more effective IMO, but to be fair the piano is not used all times, so it doesnt ruin all of the track. 6/10 or 7/10 if the piano was dropped.
Electric Flesh
Another slow piece. The drum pattern has now become familiar and not so refreshing anymore, perhaps more attention to detail could have been used. But the chord progressions are nice, and the piano theme is quite catchy. Some sound effects sound a little out of place. Towards the end the song shift a bit and a new mood is introduced, but that is also where the most interesting sounds are. Spooky voice effects halfway through. 6/10
Skin Paradox
Sound effects build up to a piano theme, with nice synth riffs and space pad s in the background. Again the piano distracts a bit, but the electronic parts are very good. There are even hints to weird musique concrete. 7/10 or 8/10 if the piano was dropped.
Velvet Road
Again space chords and sound effects (including a sexy breathing sound) form the basis for a piano theme, which this time is more melodic than the others. Two thirds through there is a break with a synth theme and cheesy synth-strings that kinda ruins the mood a bit, but then picks up again. Slow to midtempo song. One of my favourite tracks on GOL. 8/10
Near Djaina
Sounds of passing trains and a melancholic piano theme, supported by weird sound effects. Maybe the most traditional jazz / classical music piece on the album. The most minimalistic track on GOL also. Not much to do with Jarre, but a nice piano melody. 6/10
Geometry of Love Part 2
The final track is the most uptempo track on the album and breaks with the jazzy, downtempo style of most of the rest of the album. The voice arpeggio theme is rather cheesy, a bit 80s (and I dont mean that as a compliment). The overall structure of this song is a bit undefined, since it lacks proper chords progressions and is based on rythm and effects, but the Raveolution-lead fits well and is a good link to part 1. 4/10
General comments: The sound design is not far removed from Jarre's Metamorphoses (2000), while the style of music is closer to Sessions 2000 (2002), with some hints to the slower tracks of Metamorphoses. The album could appeal as much to ambient and electrojazz fans as to electronic fans. The attention to innovative sounds is maybe not as great as on Metamorphoses or some older albums, but the production is clean and typical Jarre. Traditional Jarre fans will be surprised again, and maybe annoyed about Jarre's lack of "good old classic stuff", but the album only shows that Jarre cannot be pinned down to one genre.
The album is not an essential purchase for fans of classic EM or old Jarre, but if you like Metamorphoses and dont require many upbeat tracks, this could be for you. I doubt I will play this album alot, but my personal taste aside, for what it was designed for (as loungue music for a club) I guess it works.
2003. Glenn Folkvord.
Weight:
0,105
kg per
piece
