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Product details
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Track Listings
| Disc: 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Souvenir of China | |||
| 2. Oxygene 2 | |||
| 3. Arpegiateur | |||
| 4. Oxygene 4 | |||
| 5. Equinoxe 4 | |||
| 6. Calypso 2 | |||
| 7. Zoolook | |||
| 8. Magnetic Fields 1 | |||
| 9. Magnetic Fields 2 | |||
| 10. Equinoxe 5 | |||
See all 15 tracks on this disc
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| Disc: 2 | |||
| 1. Happiness is a Sad Song | |||
| 2. Hypnose | |||
| 3. Erosmachine | |||
| 4. La Cage | |||
| 5. Chanson des Granges Brûlées /Song of the burnt Barns | |||
| 6. Windswept Canyon | |||
| 7. The Abominable Snowman | |||
| 8. Deserted Palace | |||
| 9. Le Pays de Rose / Roseland | |||
| 10. Rain Forest Rap Session | |||
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See all 16 tracks on this disc
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Product Description
CD Description
Essentials is a thoughtfully chosen selection of tracks from the Dreyfus period, covering the giant albums Oxygene, Equinoxe, Chants Magnétiques and more, digitally remastered in a care-applied way, by going back to the original analogue master tapes, and applying up-to date remastering technology. This system has bypassed the remastering mania of the 90 s, where often chunks of sound would be missed in a pixellated digital soup. The result is every bit as good as the original sound, carrying depth and range and conveying the excitement of Jarre s cutting-edge music as it was conceived. Rarities is a real find for any Jarre completist or fan. It covers mainly material recorded prior to the emergence of Oxygene, some never commercially released, and none ever seen on CD before. At the time, Jarre was a student under Pierre Schaeffer, the creator of Musique Concrète, and the man behind the idea of music moving away from traditional instrumentation, towards a sound-based appreciation whatever the source. Experimentation with sounds abounds on these recordings, which are again given the same meticulous remastering treatment.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
This review talks about the 2 CD package Essentials and Rarities, and not just the rarities disk
To my knowledge at least, this is the fourth album released to claim the name "The Essential" Jean Michel Jarre, leaving aside albums like Aero or Musik aus Zeit und Raum. In all fairness, none of them have contained exactly the same contents, though has always been a common core of work interspersed with a few, newer morsels. Here were find a welcome bow for The The Concerts in China's under-appreciated Arpeggiator. However, while 2000's Gloria, Lonely Boy makes an appearance, there is nothing from either Chronologie or 1997's Oxygene 7-13. Perhaps this is because of the emphasis Jarre placed on so-called dancier fare like Chronologie when putting together Aero several years ago. Even so, the non appearance of Chronologie 4 or 6 or Oxygene 8, 12 or 13 can only be described as puzzling on something that claims to be essential. Zoolook also appears, and in its original album form, not the later remix.
However, what is there sounds generally beautiful (as one might expect), and the 24bit mastering is an improvement on the remastering of his work that happened during his move to Sony in the 1990's. It really manages to show off the scope and breadth of material like the Equinoxe and Magnetic Fields tracks that appear here. Even Fourth Rendez-Vous sounds a touch better, though you'd have to listen with decent equipment to get the real benefit, I think.
What is more interesting, however, is the second (Rarities) disc. Here, some of Jarre's earliest works, for so long available only on bootleg releases, finally see an official airing and a clean up. Most of the disc is comprised of selections from the 1972 album Deserted Palace. And they do sound better than having them on bootleg recording. Pieces like Music Box Concerto and Deserted Palace itself sound a little more vivid and clear, with strong, crisp bass and nicely defined treble. However, the beginning of Deserted Palace seem s to have gone through a blender, suddenly having the treble turned up around 10 seconds in. Perhaps this is the best that could be done with the (now fairly aged) analogue master tapes. The selection does cherry pick the best from the album, together with Erosmachine and La Cage, whose influence can be heard even into the 90's on Chronologie.
However, for a fan, this represents something of a missed opportunity. There are a number of old pieces, like Zig Zag Dance and Cartolina, that would have been nice to include. The biggest disappointment for me is the lack of any video material, or the cream of some of the 1980's remixes of Zoolook, Zoolookologie (to this day one of my favourite Jarre things ever) or the Special remix of Fourth Rendez-vous.
For me, then, this collection is a mixed bag: a feast of treats that do appear, adulterated somewhat by the disappointment for the absence of those that do not. Still, for a fan, this is certainly worth having, if only to hear some of those things with a fresh ear.
To my knowledge at least, this is the fourth album released to claim the name "The Essential" Jean Michel Jarre, leaving aside albums like Aero or Musik aus Zeit und Raum. In all fairness, none of them have contained exactly the same contents, though has always been a common core of work interspersed with a few, newer morsels. Here were find a welcome bow for The The Concerts in China's under-appreciated Arpeggiator. However, while 2000's Gloria, Lonely Boy makes an appearance, there is nothing from either Chronologie or 1997's Oxygene 7-13. Perhaps this is because of the emphasis Jarre placed on so-called dancier fare like Chronologie when putting together Aero several years ago. Even so, the non appearance of Chronologie 4 or 6 or Oxygene 8, 12 or 13 can only be described as puzzling on something that claims to be essential. Zoolook also appears, and in its original album form, not the later remix.
However, what is there sounds generally beautiful (as one might expect), and the 24bit mastering is an improvement on the remastering of his work that happened during his move to Sony in the 1990's. It really manages to show off the scope and breadth of material like the Equinoxe and Magnetic Fields tracks that appear here. Even Fourth Rendez-Vous sounds a touch better, though you'd have to listen with decent equipment to get the real benefit, I think.
What is more interesting, however, is the second (Rarities) disc. Here, some of Jarre's earliest works, for so long available only on bootleg releases, finally see an official airing and a clean up. Most of the disc is comprised of selections from the 1972 album Deserted Palace. And they do sound better than having them on bootleg recording. Pieces like Music Box Concerto and Deserted Palace itself sound a little more vivid and clear, with strong, crisp bass and nicely defined treble. However, the beginning of Deserted Palace seem s to have gone through a blender, suddenly having the treble turned up around 10 seconds in. Perhaps this is the best that could be done with the (now fairly aged) analogue master tapes. The selection does cherry pick the best from the album, together with Erosmachine and La Cage, whose influence can be heard even into the 90's on Chronologie.
However, for a fan, this represents something of a missed opportunity. There are a number of old pieces, like Zig Zag Dance and Cartolina, that would have been nice to include. The biggest disappointment for me is the lack of any video material, or the cream of some of the 1980's remixes of Zoolook, Zoolookologie (to this day one of my favourite Jarre things ever) or the Special remix of Fourth Rendez-vous.
For me, then, this collection is a mixed bag: a feast of treats that do appear, adulterated somewhat by the disappointment for the absence of those that do not. Still, for a fan, this is certainly worth having, if only to hear some of those things with a fresh ear.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
True, there are some rare little delights on here, but there are also some 'petits etrons'. Having played it whilst working, some of the tracks are obviously practice pieces, as they jar (sic) terribly, almost forcing one to skip to the next track. So to keep it simple, if you have the compulsory starters (Oxygene, Equinoxe, Les Chants Magnetiques, Les Concerts en Chine et Zoolook) then go on to 'Geometry of Love' as it won't be an uncomfortable progression. Beyond this, only if you must, IMHO. Enough is enough. MBC.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Essentials CD is a good compilation - nothing wrong here, and of course there will always be a track that "should have been included" on any Best Of compilation. What's different here, though, is that this is Jarre's own selection of material, from his period working with his long-term publisher Francis Dreyfus, who passed away last year. One feels the selection is a personal reflection of memories of working with Dreyfus, the highs and lows of a collaboration spanning 20+ years - and one suspects that there are some heartfelt choices amongst them, meaning we may not always be aware of the background story that inspired Jarre to include them. So, for that reason, I can avoid wishing that a few of my own favourite tracks aren't listed, and instead enjoy the selection that is there, remastered in beautiful clarity, fresh as though newly written.
What brings this CD collection to life is the second CD of Rarities. Despite being a fan of Jarre since the early days, there were still a few surprises, and some moments of such avant-garde genius that I was, simply, floored. It is astonishing to hear some of the tracks here and realise that they were written over 40 years ago - and that still have the power to disturb, uplift or just plain amaze. Take La Cage, composed in 1969 - a stunning track that demands listening to a few times (and preferably on a good system). Distorted, atonal, raw noise with angry, urgent drums and cymbals - the whole track is simply stunning, in the true sense of the word. It took me a while to recover from the power of it, and I can hear it now, at the edge of my hearing - incredible.
I won't give a blow-by-blow of all the tracks - listen to it yourself! - and some are less brilliant than others, but this is an amazing insight into the portfolio of work Jarre was producing before Oxygene.
If you have come to Jarre from hearing a track on a chillout-beach-bar album compilation, then this wouldn't be the choice of Best Of for you - there are better options available if you want a smooth, mellow Jarre compilation CD. But fans of Jarre, Kraftwerk, or electronic music in general should definitely give this a go.
The packaging, by the way, is brilliant - a good sturdy, handsome box with two trays inside, and retro CDs the colour and design of vinyl records - brilliant. And sound quality throughout is perfect.
What brings this CD collection to life is the second CD of Rarities. Despite being a fan of Jarre since the early days, there were still a few surprises, and some moments of such avant-garde genius that I was, simply, floored. It is astonishing to hear some of the tracks here and realise that they were written over 40 years ago - and that still have the power to disturb, uplift or just plain amaze. Take La Cage, composed in 1969 - a stunning track that demands listening to a few times (and preferably on a good system). Distorted, atonal, raw noise with angry, urgent drums and cymbals - the whole track is simply stunning, in the true sense of the word. It took me a while to recover from the power of it, and I can hear it now, at the edge of my hearing - incredible.
I won't give a blow-by-blow of all the tracks - listen to it yourself! - and some are less brilliant than others, but this is an amazing insight into the portfolio of work Jarre was producing before Oxygene.
If you have come to Jarre from hearing a track on a chillout-beach-bar album compilation, then this wouldn't be the choice of Best Of for you - there are better options available if you want a smooth, mellow Jarre compilation CD. But fans of Jarre, Kraftwerk, or electronic music in general should definitely give this a go.
The packaging, by the way, is brilliant - a good sturdy, handsome box with two trays inside, and retro CDs the colour and design of vinyl records - brilliant. And sound quality throughout is perfect.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
another jarre album for my collection
A VERY DIFFERENT STLYE OF JARRE ,THE EARLY WORKS HAVE TO BE LISTENED TO A COUPLE OF TIMES TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS RECORDED BEFORE HE HAD ALL THE LATEST ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT SO... Read more
Published 6 months ago by the wookster
Good collectors item
This album makes interesting listening. It's great to have some of the older pieces digitally enhanced, such as 'Arpegiateur', and 'Calypso'. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Phil
Oh So Strange!
This is a hugely interesting album with some very interesting work. It features some great early sounds and it is clearly a talent in the making. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mike's Empire
Very disappointing...Avoid
I have been listening to JMJ since the 80's, and I actually got his autograph on two of my CDs while he was in Hong Kong (I was in the Chorus in his HK Concert! Read more
Published 9 months ago by nagi_hojo
Another Jarre to the soul
The CD's arrived in good time, but was rather a disappointment as it was a rehash of past works with a few odd ones thrown in that I hadn't heard before. Read more
Published 10 months ago by I. M. Shaw
A Disappointing Release.
Being a very long term fan of Jarre's work, i found this new release to be very disappointing.
Don't get me wrong but disk 1 is full of Jarre's classic tracks, however, we... Read more
Don't get me wrong but disk 1 is full of Jarre's classic tracks, however, we... Read more
Published 10 months ago by ALVIN PRITCHARD.
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