Images: the Best of Jean Michel Jarre

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2009-06-21 rating:
A chronicle of 70's 80's Jarre
This 'best of' album was originally released in 1991 and then again in 1997, but this time digitally remastered and with 3 extra tracks. It's not merely another compilation album as it has three tracks exclusive to it: 'Moon Machine' (a rare b-side), 'Eldorado' and 'Globe Trotter' (both written for a special concert that sadly never happened). 'Moon Machine' is a quirky, rhythmic, sound-driven rather than tuneful little piece that was recorded for, but left off the Rendez-Vous (1986) album. 'Eldorado' has an ethnic feel to it and is one of those tunes that stick in your head for days. It has been played live a few times since and was adopted as the UNESCO theme for tolerance. 'Globe Trotter' is an adrenaline-pumped sequencer driven track and one of my favourites of his. br / br /Another feature of this album is that the tracks have been mixed together to create a continuous flow of music, with no gaps, like they are on Oxygene (1976), Equinoxe (1978) and many other JMJ albums. I don't think it works quite as well on a compilation, as the different styles from various eras of Jarre's career can sometimes jar when mixed together but it does not detract from the music overall. br / br /Some of the tracks have been remixed/updated for this album, they are: 'Magnetic Fields 2' (an improvement on the original), 'Equinoxe 4' (not as good as the original), 'Orient Express' (a slight improvement) and a shorter live mix of the 'Second Rendez-Vous'. Other tracks have been shortened such as 'Ethnicolor 1' which is rather irritating as you don't get the great climax to it, but it's inevitable that the long tracks get edited down on a compilation like this. br / br /Many of Jarre's greatest hits are here including 'Oxygene 4', 'Equinoxe 5', and the 'Fourth Rendez-Vous' but there are also some lesser known pieces such as 'Computer Weekend', 'Calypso 3', 'Wooloomooloo' and 'Blah Blah Cafe' (one of my favourites). There are some glaring omissions too: no 'Magnetic Fields 1', 'Souvenir of China' or 'Revolutions' but you can't have everything for a single disc compilation, and all of his studio albums up to Waiting for Cousteau (1990) are represented. br / br /Buy this album if you want a great introduction to his music and particularly if you're a fan and don't have the exclusive tracks offered on this disc. If you want a more up-to-date compilation that features music from the albums Chronologie (1993), Oxygene 7-13 (1997) and Metamorphosis (2000), then go for Essential Jean-Michel Jarre. br / br /P.S. remember to buy this digital remaster of 'Images' and not the original edition as the sound is better and you get more music, including the great 'Zoolookologie'.


review by: date: 2007-12-31 rating:
Images
'Images' is a pretty good place to go if you want your first hit of Jean Michel Jarres studio work. It's not necessarily the best place to go for your first taste of his music though. I tend to feel he is best heard on a live album first and 'Destination Docklands' is my personal favourite and recommendation. Never the less you get a good taste of Jarre from this CD. You get all his best known hits and you'll be surprised just how many you know. Of course 'Oxygene', 'Fourth Rendez Vous' and the excellent 'London Kid' are here, but you get a good selection of his other output as well. I guess it's worth noting here that Jarres music is very much electro pop and may be an acquired taste, but his music can be extremely powerful and stirring. The songs often build up as they progress and finish with an intensity lacking in other music of this genre. Again, that is why a live album is better as a compilation of his work, as you get the build of music and atmosphere throughout the show. Overall this is a good selection of Jarres music and a good example of his studio sound. If you like this then get out there and hunt down a live album or three!

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