Oxygène 7-13 by Jean-Michel Jarre

Oxygène 7-13 is Jean-Michel Jarre's 1997 sequel to his 1976 landmark, picking up the numbering where the original stopped. He returned to vintage analogue synthesisers to keep the kinship clear. I came to it long after the first record, and it works as both echo and answer.

Why listen?

The sound is warm and analogue, all sighing pads and bright sequenced lines. The production updates the old palette without losing its handmade feel. There is no singing and no story spelled out, only mood and movement. There is wonder here, the same sense of looking down on a calm, turning world. It is patient music that rewards a patient ear.

Favourite song: Oxygène 8

The driving single, built on a tight bassline and a wailing lead hook. It is the most alive moment on the record.

The moment the sequence settles into its groove feels like finding a steady stride on a long, open trail. It reminds me of a clear morning when the legs find their rhythm and the miles slip by. The piece says little in words and everything in motion, which is its quiet genius.

Key takeaway

Oxygène 7-13 honours its source while standing on its own. Give it a quiet room and let it carry you.

Tracklist

• Oxygène 7
• Oxygène 8
• Oxygène 9
• Oxygène 10
• Oxygène 11
• Oxygène 12
• Oxygène 13

Details

Listen on

• Apple Music
• Amazon
• Spotify

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