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Geometry of Love

Jean Michel Jarre - Geometry of Love Audio CD

A fair review of the Jean Michel Jarre "Geometry of Love" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Jean Michel Jarre reviews here, or go back to the Jean Michel Jarre tabs.

Band: Jean Michel Jarre
Title: Geometry of Love
Rating:

Release Date: 2003-09-15
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Pleasure Principle 2: Geometry of Love, Pt. 1 3: Soul Intrusion 4: Electric Flesh 5: Skin Paradox 6: Velvet Road 7: Near Djaina 8: Geometry of Love, Pt. 2

This Jarre album has really grown on me
Keep coming back and taking more from it. This unknown Jarre album (I own the extended version) has really grown on me the last year and a half or so. I would say it is the deepest album he has released.

Why? It seems to be the most mature album - in terms of theme and emotion. It isn't always full of positive, uplifting tunes or highlight beats. But it is moving and is not full of fluff.

Let me go over each of the pieces.

Pleasure Principle - Very slow and touching. Unlike his piece "Beautiful Agony" in "Teo and Tea," it downplays the eroticism aspect and really brings in the romanticism of the moment. It is more caress-like than carnal.

Geometry of Love (Part I) - Part I and Part II are wonderful, downplayed pieces that resembles the characteristics of notable pieces of the past. They both feel like Magnetic Fields (Part I) with lovesickness - you're being lifted from reality and brought into the clouds. Truly highlights of the album.

Soul Intrusion - I really like this piece. The name does fit. It feels like an inner exploration of someone's psyche. It's like the reading of eyes or the watching of mannerisms. Also, the progression starting at the 2:33 mark is very nice. The percussion is not overdone at all and the piano is satisfying.

Electric Flesh - This is my least favorite piece. It sounds more like the pieces of "Sessions 2000" at the beginning, but does pick up some flair, especially at the end. What saves it is the verve picked up after the 4:20 mark, where it starts sounding more sensual in my opinion.

Skin Paradox - Sounds fairly good. It has a more oceanic atmosphere than anything. I especially like the piano playing in this one, it really matures the piece. The percussion at the last half of the piece is also very nice.

Velvet Road - This is a splendid composition of musical and sound effects. This one has a very poignant, romantic mood with a gratifying melodic piano track.

Near Djiana - Overall, a general piano piece in itself. It is very heartwarming and reminds me somewhat to Vangelis' "Piano in an Empty Room. " "Near Djiana," though, came first.

Geometry of Love (Part II) - The main difference between Part I and II is Part II has a very nice voice-percussion effect and has a little more oomph. Like I said, it reminds me of Magnetic Fields with lovesickness.

My Extended version also includes pieces from the very hard to find "Jarremix" mix album and a piece from Oxygene 10 Maxi Singles ("Transcengenics Edit"). Highlights are "Chronologie 6 (Main Mix)", "Revolution, Revolutions (Oriental Mix)," "Equinox 7 (Ambient Mix)," and "Chronologie 4 (E-motion Mix). " By the way, I own the 10-track "Jarremix". Although rare and expensive, it is very satisfying. But I'll leave that for another review.

Overall, the album is true to its themes and is accurate of its portrayed emotion. I keep coming back to it and finding more trinkets. It might be hard for many Jarre fans to listen to at first. . . but it can grow on you as it did to me.

I hope you can find a reasonable priced one.

If this is the "Geometry of Love", Jean Michel is the new Euclid.
Here's eight tracks (detailed below), ranging between 3:51 and 6:17 minutes long, all with great erotic potential, an instrumental Bryan Ferry, but allied also with an immense elemental atmosphere of, well . . of air! There's plenty of air. Breathe it in through your aural nostrils: hazy days, full of mellow sunshine and seduction.

There is great rhythmic ingenuity here overlain by a light orchestral touch. One assumes that Jean Michel Jarre can reel off these tracks in his sleep, but I am still amazed at his ingenuity in creating vignettes of both great lightness and depth.

The opening track, "Pleasure principle", is by far the best. A romantic three-note rising and falling `cello' riff amidst rustling leaves of an autumn meditation, a cool groove with a heavy and constantly descending `bass'. Overall, this five-star track instils a warm feeling of reassuring solicitude.

The title track is second and comprises standard Jarre fare. Track three, "Soul Intrusion", is a light but gorgeously structured rhythm introduces a meandering jazzy `piano'. It's a shame that this winds down so soon. "Electric Flesh" follows, `piano' and `strings' supported by a deep rhythmic base of great detail and complexity. Metaphorically, I felt I was down amidst the blades of grass whilst simultaneously gazing at the immense sky above. Nature can be erotic too.

The fifth sequence, "Skin Paradox" mixes a measured Chopinesque ballade, telling its story without beginning or end, above a dreamy `percussion'. This is definitely one for deep-breathing. It's followed by "Velvet Road", again with a jazzy `piano' and `percussion' bolstered by a 21st-century `guitar' and keyboard effects. This track is crying out for lyrics.

In track seven, "Near Djaina", rattling trains come and go whilst a solitary `piano' tells its sad story. The album ends with a part two of the title track, a dance-oriented version with a more exuberant `guitar' solo.

If this is the "Geometry of Love", Jean Michel is the new Euclid.
.

Jarre strikes again!
He's an artist, and artists evolve. Jarre neither experienced an "erosion" nor did he drift from his "roots". He uses music and sounds like a painter uses color and shading. If the artist painted the same bridge fifty times, using different colors each time, you'de get pissed. This album was a commissioned work for a nightclub/lounge, so yeah, it is lounge music. And I'd put it on for dinner company. You can even put it on while meditating, relaxing, reading, whatever. But it most definately has Jarre style, sound, and trademark all over it. His melodies change, his compositions change, but his style is - well - still there. It's very much Jarre. If you want Oxygene, then go buy that album. In the mean time this is some darn good chilling out music. .

Must have for Jean Michel Jarre fans

I've been reading other reviews and there are two general opinions about this album and his latest works, such as Oxygene 7-13, Metamorphosis and Aero. As most JMJ fans know, he has being experimenting with new sounds and slightly got into this new age of lounge music. Some fans think this is an evolution of his music, another phase of his mind; others think he has lost his musical personality.

Well, I think we probably got used to the sound of his previous albums, a "hardcore" Jarre. (Don't take me wrong, those albums are my favorites). All these new sounds are less extravagant but still have his colorful touch. A desperate attempt to gain the attention of new generations? Who knows, maybe we are the ones who have not evolved along with him.

Lets not forget that "Geometry of Love" it's just a project for a trendy club in Paris. It doesn't sounds like the Jarre we all know though. That's the reason why I only gave 3 stars to this album.

I am true hardcore Jarre fan, and I might follow him through any path he decides to walk. .

A CD to have in your Jarre collection
Have listened to it quite a few times. New music is very good. Some of his old electronic instruments can be heard in the background on some tracks.

No Jarre fan should be without this CD.

You can see a complete list of all Jean Michel Jarre discography, or go back to the Jean Michel Jarre tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.