"Equinoxe" was the second major-label album release by French musician Jean Michel Jarre, released on Disques Dreyfus (with license to Polydor) in late 1978.
The album reflects a day in the life of a human being, from morning to night. Parts 1 to 4 (i.e. side A) and tracks 5 to 8 (side B) segué smoothly from one to the next.
Jarre had developed his sound, employing more dynamic and rhythmic elements, particularly a greater use of sequencing on basslines. Much of this was achieved using custom equipment developed by his collaborator Michel Geiss. As the follow up album to "Oxygene", "Equinoxe" offers the same mesmerizing affect, with rapid spinning sequencer washes and bubbling synthesizer portions all lilting back and forth to stardust scatterings of electronic pastiches. Using more than 13 different types of synthesizers, Jarre combines whirling soundscapes of multi-textured effects, passages, and sometimes suites to culminate interesting electronic atmospheres. Never repeating the same sounds twice, it is obvious that the science fiction hype of the late 70's played a large part in the making of this album. Computerized rhythms and keyboard-soaked transitions scurry by, replaced by even quicker, more illustrious ones soon after. There is always a pulsating beat or a fluttering tempo happening somewhere in each of the tracks, which are titled as a numbered sequence one to eight. Each track harbors its own energy and electronic fleetness, but none are identical in sound or pace. So much electronic color is added to every track that it is impossible to concentrate on any particular segment, resulting in waves of synth drowning the ears at high tide.
Two singles were released from the album, "Équinoxe Part 5" first, and then "Équinoxe Part 4".
Track List:
01. "Équinoxe Part 1" – 2:23
02. "Équinoxe Part 2" – 5:01
03. "Équinoxe Part 3" – 5:11
04. "Équinoxe Part 4" – 6:53
05. "Équinoxe Part 5" – 3:47
06. "Équinoxe Part 6" – 3:23
07. "Équinoxe Part 7" – 7:25
08. "Équinoxe Part 8" – 5:02
Released: December 1978
Recorded: January 1978 – August 1978
Genre: Electronica, New Age
Length: 39:09
Label: Disques Dreyfus
Producer: Jean Michel Jarre
Personnel:
Jean-Michel Jarre – ARP 2600 Synthesizer, EMS Synthi AKS, VCS 3 Synthesizer, Yamaha CS-80, Oberheim TVS-1A, RMI Harmonic Synthesizer, RMI Keyboard Computer, ELKA 707, Korg Polyphonic Ensemble 2000, Eminent 310U, Mellotron, ARP Sequencer, Oberheim Digital Sequencer, Matrisequencer 250, Rhythmicomputer (Korg MiniPops 7), EMS Vocoder
No comments:
Post a Comment