Released December 1978 Artist Jean-Michel Jarre Label Polydor Records | Length 39:09 Release date December 1978 Producer Jean-Michel Jarre | |
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Recorded January 1978 – August 1978 Équinoxe
(1978) Les Chants Magnétiques
(1981) Genres Electronica, Ambient music, Electronic music, New-age music, Chill-out music Similar Jean-Michel Jarre albums, Ambient music albums | ||
Equinoxe 4 jean michel jarre
Équinoxe (English: Equinox) is the fourth studio album by French electronic musician and composer Jean-Michel Jarre, released in December 1978 on the Disques Dreyfus record label, with license to Polydor.
Contents
- Equinoxe 4 jean michel jarre
- Release and promotion
- Critical reception
- Track listing
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
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. The album is presented as two suites of music, each consisting of 4 parts and taking up one side of the vinyl release of the album. The separate tracks on the record smoothly segue into each other to this effect.
The album reached number 11 on the UK Album Chart and number 126 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
During the 1980s, "Équinoxe Part 4" was used in the opening credits of the TVNZ documentary series Our World.
Release and promotion
Two singles were released from the album, "Équinoxe Part 5" first, and then "Équinoxe Part 4". The short piece of music at the beginning of "Équinoxe Part 8" has been played live with different arrangements, including a version for an acoustic street organ, under the title of "Band in the Rain".
The release was followed by a concert on the Place de la Concorde, Paris on 14 July 1979. The concert attracted 1 million people, becoming Jarre's first entry in the Guinness Book of Records for the largest crowd for an outdoor concert.
As with Jarre's previous album, Oxygène, the album cover art was provided by Michel Granger
Critical reception
Melody Maker's review at the time of Équinoxe's release scorned the record, saying "it is as slushily, pseudo-galactically crass and vapid as last year's Oxygène. The melodies are trite, harmonies predictable, textures almost determinedly hackneyed (even down to artificial 'weather' effects to generate mood). There isn't even much that's danceable."
A retrospective review by Allmusic commented, "As the follow up album to Oxygène, Équinoxe offers the same mesmerizing effect, 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... 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."
Track listing
All tracks composed by Jean-Michel Jarre.
Side one
- "Équinoxe Part 1" – 2:25
- "Équinoxe Part 2" – 5:00
- "Équinoxe Part 3" – 5:09
- "Équinoxe Part 4" – 6:54
Side two
- "Équinoxe Part 5" – 3:54
- "Équinoxe Part 6" – 3:28
- "Équinoxe Part 7" – 7:06
- "Équinoxe Part 8" – 4:57
Personnel
Songs
1Equinoxe - Part 12:24
2Équinoxe - Part 25:03
3Équinoxe - Part 35:09