JEAN-MICHEL JARRE has been one of the pioneering forces of the electronic music scene over the past four decades, having originally made his name in the 1970s for his critically acclaimed album OXYGENE.
OXYGENE was without doubt one of the biggest catalysts that set electronic music on its way to becoming the behemoth that it is today, with Jean-Michel’s music and follow-through albums breaking down boundaries of composing and production, paving the path for what has become today the most popular genre of music of all time. With over 80 million albums sold worldwide to date, musicians and contemporary DJs often refer to Jarre's influence and innovation, citing OXYGENE as the album that changed it all for them.
On December 2, Jarre will release the final chapter of the OXYGENE Trilogy via Sony Music. With the first album released in 1977 and OXYGENE 2 released in 1997, OXYGENE 3 not only celebrates the 40th anniversary of the all-time classic, but also marks the final chapter of the ground-breaking Trilogy.
Much like its predecessors, OXYGENE 3 is a 40-minute, one-take masterpiece celebrating Electronic Music as its best. Jarre’s inspiration for the newly added parts on OXYGENE 3 was not to go back in time, but to add a sense of “now” to his iconic piece of work. It’s a state-of-the-art recording, embracing both classic and modern ways of music production.
“Oxygene Pt. 17 is the first single and a bright moment of the album: I wanted to create a groove with the melodic part on its own and to also create the real feel of a spacey trip - which is what Oxygene is all about - and with minimalist drums. What made and makes Oxygene different, is probably that an important part of the sound is made of white noise, creating a hazy atmosphere. It is ironic to think back in time when everybody was obsessed by improving the signal to noise ratio, that I used so much noise as part of my music”. – Jean-Michel Jarre
Today, Jarre reveals a stunning, otherworldly video for Oxygene Pt. 17, which you can watch here:
With intermittent sequences showing Jarre in the spectacular setting of his Electronica World Tour, the timeless innovator has continued to push boundaries with this latest visual project, encapsulating our fascinating world and the rapidly advancing role of technological modernization. Emphasizing The SETI Institute and its relentless quest to contact alien life amid our ever-expanding universe, Jarre layers melody, pulsating synths and vibrant basslines throughout the video’s duration. Flashing between clips of mankind's greatest achievements, namely space travel, mass infrastructure and computers, the 3-minute compilation ends with a bold statement connecting Jarre's International Release of OXYGENE IV with SETI's widely controversial detection of the 'Wow! Signal' in August of 1977, just days later.
Somewhat alluding to a potential cosmic event to coincide with the impending release of OXYGENE 3, Jarre isn't ready to discount SETI's role in our swiftly advancing society. The album will feature 7 heavily melodic cuts (OXYGENE 14-20), and ideally bring listeners to a space not too dissimilar from OXYGENE 17's vibrant visuals.
To further accompany the release of OXYGENE 3 and his on-going Electronica World Tour, Jean-Michel has shared a unique series of clips, which provide a first hand insight to his vision on music, playing live and more. You can watch the #JMJSERIES below.
WATCH #JMJSERIES
OXYGENE 3 will be available worldwide on December 2, and will officially complete one of Electronic Music’s legacy’s body of work commenced 40 years ago.
Jean-Michel Jarre ELECTRONICA Remaining Tour Dates
November 24 – Halle Tony Garnier – Lyon, France
November 25 – Arena – Geneva, Switzerland
November 26 – Zénith – Dijon, France
November 28 – Zénith D’Auvergne – Clermont Ferrand, France
November 29 – Zénith Metropole – Nantes, France
December 12 – AccorHotels Arena - Paris, France
Additional info:
jeanmicheljarre.com
facebook.com/jeanmicheljarre
twitter.com/jeanmicheljarre
soundcloud.com/jeanmicheljarre
youtube.com/jeanmicheljarre
vevo.com/jean-michel-jarre