This project was a long time coming. Jean-Michel Jarre created the legendary Oxygene album way back in 1976, which was immediately declared a classic in its own original way. It was a key album in the development and progression of Electronic-based music and unlike other classic albums of the time, aged well. The original Oxygene changed the way that people listened to and perceived music as an art form, to say the least. Technically, this is the sequel to the original Oxygene, released 21 years later. This incorporated assistance from Jean-Michel Jarre’s collaborator Michel Giess, alongside Francis Rimbert (keyboards) and Christian Sales (programmer) for this release. Dedicated to the memory of his former mentor Pierre Schaeffer, this is no doubt a special project of Jean-Michel Jarre’s making. Let’s take a listen to the sequel of the original Oxygene, and we can hope it is a good listen indeed.

Oxygene, Pt. 7 begins with a lone keyboard melody, which is different. Soon enough, a wind whoosh enters and we are underway here. This is a good continuation of the original Oxygene, and it has a very suspenseful feel to it. It is a fascinating listening experience. A really great Electronic, imaginative and rather Psychedelic music feel is present in this tune. It sounds explorative as well. A cool, futuristic and different listening experience is present in this Electronic instrumental. To be fair, this does sound really fantastic and enjoyable. If machines could only speak and make music on their own methods, then this is the closest sort of thing to that. Regardless, this is an ingenious continuation of the original Oxygene that Jean-Michel Jarre pioneered back in the 1970s. A really awesome and fascinating listening experience that sounds bold, beautiful and brilliant. This has some excellent fantasy-based melodies throughout that are quirky. Towards the middle, the percussion backs off for a bit, with some Acid-styled melodies present on this instrumental. This is exactly the amazing and tranquil sort of music you need to close your eyes and relax to. This is not straightforward House or Techno music, but instead, it is something that truly captures the imagination. Nonetheless, a really fine effort that works incredibly well and sounds blissful. This piece is over 11 minutes long, but there is not a dull moment present at all. The music, musicianship and playing are all fine and fantastic here. In the second half of this track, the piece changes somewhat into a watery yet awesome piece of melodic structuring. A great, great listening experience that sounds serene. The piece reaches a good turning point with wind sounds, random melodies and the sound of rain in the breakdown in the second half of the track. Seriously good music here. This sounds ethereal and peaceful musically and is a really top-notch tune for all listeners out there to enjoy. The rainfall sounds continue, along with a strange string-sounding melody throughout. Soon enough, multitracked liquid sounds progress into the next section very nicely, and the tune begins sounding really warped and different. A great listen, updated with the spirit of the 1990s. There are some interesting theremin sounds throughout, along with other tripped-out musical sounds. A really great listening experience, it sounds semi-Pink Floydian here. The track gradually progresses to its logical ending, and this is a fantastic and great way to spend over 11 minutes of your life hearing. It fades out towards the end, leaving just the wind sounds, before seguing into the next track.

Oxygene, Pt. 8 quickly launches into a flurry of spacey melodies and hi-hat based percussion, before some decent beats enter and we are underway. There is a good melody throughout that is cool and catchy, and is likely played on a keyboard, which sounds great. The drum machine beats are different and sound like a Roland beat mania sort of thing. Towards the middle are some interesting Mellotron-styled melodies and flurries of sound and texture throughout. Nonetheless, this does sound really excellent and brilliant throughout. Jean-Michel Jarre is a true genius, period. This is intelligent, interesting and consistent music throughout. The second half has some weird sounds that add to the frenzied mix, and this continues on nicely here. A short, interesting and good example of what Jean-Michel Jarre can do musically. It fades out, with a flurry of melodies present.

Oxygene, Pt. 9 begins with some super surreal sounds and some interesting sonic textures that demand to be heard through headphones. It sounds excellent, mind you. This six-minute-long piece is a spacey adventure through the depths of what Electronic music can offer. A great and interesting listening experience throughout, this is super cool and very futuristic. In fact, unlike most albums of 1997, this has barely aged a bit. The spacey and interesting textures flow through both channels like a knife through butter, smooth and easy to listen to. A really cool and top-notch listen, this sounds colourful, beautiful and extraordinary. Indeed, Jean-Michel Jarre creates a great listening experience unlike anything else out there in the world of music. There are some dark textures throughout, to add light and shade to this wonderful music. Indeed, this is amazing sounding and quite unlike anything else out there, to this very day. This is a wonderful listen through the depths of human creativity and imagination that few could attempt to match. In the second half, it gets rather subtle with some cyber electronic noises and Theremin-styled sounds to match it. All in all, this is a really great and magical music listening experience. There is an air of melancholy to these musical melodies and the structure is more about melody than rhythm in this section. Still, its otherworldliness is appealing, and this is still a great listen throughout. A really amazing musical experience, and something that is very unique sound-wise. Towards the end, many multitracked sounds come in and out of earshot, and this gradually heads on to the next track.

Oxygene, Pt. 10 begins with some strange and different melodies, along with some cool, interesting and somewhat mainstream EDM sounds for this album. Actual beats are present here, which are different, but add a good contemporary flavour to the music at hand. A really cool and tripped-out listen, this sounds very colourful. It’s not the sort of Rave flavoured EDM music you can dance to. Instead, it serves an interesting and explorative musical purpose throughout. Some of the textures present sound like real ear candy on this album, and this track is no exception to that. A joyful and excellent listen, it is clear that Jean-Michel Jarre tapped into the spirit of the 1990s with this sequel to the original Oxygene album, and has done so very well. An otherworldly and imaginative tune is here, and to be fair, this won’t be to everyone’s tastes. But it works. Towards the end, the main track fades out nicely, with some unusual sounds present, which sound like a person on a respirator. Very weird, this segues on into the next track.

Oxygene, Pt. 11 begins with multiple drum machine-styled melodies and launches into a frenzy of audio-animated action. This sounds very awesome, and each texture is done well down to the very last detail. Soon enough, some rather dark melodies enter that sound really excellent and awesome. A really different listen, this is something that musical historians and Electronic Music fans alike should look into. This is great for all its dark and creepy sounds throughout. A very interesting and different listen, this has some eerie and unusual sounds throughout. In a way, this is also rather hypnotic and very catchy as well. A great listen, having said that. The digital intricacies and melodies throughout are really fantastic to listen to. A feast for the ears for Electronic Music and EDM lovers. One has to bear in mind that this is not something that traditional musicians or music lovers of the sort would enjoy. It is something that would be great for Psychedelic drug users, namely Ketamine and DMT users to blast off with. All the same, this sounds excellent. Towards the end, it fades out with some wind whooshing-styled melodies to finish it off as it segues into the next track.

Oxygene, Pt. 12 begins with some digital beep-styled melodies and is nicely mixed throughout. More of the theme whooshing noises enter, along with some fantastic melodies that enter. This one continues the slight air of melancholy throughout, just sounding really brilliant. This is the sort of Classical Music that those in the 21st century should listen to, provided that they find the likes of Bach, Beethoven or Mozart traditional and boring. Nonetheless, this is a really excellent tune to listen to and enjoy. It sounds nicely layered and detailed throughout. Understandably, this album is not a million miles away from the dark otherworldliness of Techno Music, of which this is inspired for and by. A good dark and melancholy listening experience that is unique and different, Jean-Michel Jarre delivers nicely here. This music appeals to those who view music through a scientific lens, and the colour, variety of melodies and overall brilliance of this album confirm that. There are watery and interesting melodies throughout this track, and it is one of the standouts from this album. Undeniably excellent. Towards the end of the track, the melodies become eased off with the main melodies remaining. A good listen overall. This ends with some more wind-whooshing-styled sounds and weird textures galore.

Oxygene, Pt. 13 is the final track here and has some unusual Tribal styled beats to hear. Soon enough, some moody melodies that are spacey enter this listening experience. This is an interesting way to finish off a good sequel to a phenomenal album that changed the way that music was listened to. This is a more minimal sort of listen, this particular track. A really cool and interesting track for the listener to enjoy, this is also a fairly emotional sort of listening experience. Nonetheless, it is definitely interesting listening and worth your time and ears from start to finish. A great piece of music. The second half has some more themed whoosh-styled sounds about it, and this sounds superb and excellent. Towards the end, the main track fades out, leaving just the wind-whooshing-styled sounds to complete this fantastic album. A very top listen, from start to finish. Brilliant.

This album should not be underestimated in the history of music. Like the original Oxygene, it is a fantastic and unique listening experience that still sounds great and holds musical relevance today. Sure, it is a sequel, but is in many ways just as good and necessary listening as the original album. Should you listen to this album? Definitely, if you are a fan of any form of Electronic Music, you must hear this. It is a really stunning piece of musical art.

Fantastic.

9/10