Jean-Michel Jarre’s ‘Electronica 1:The Time Machine’ Nominated For Grammy
Pioneering French electronic music composer and producer, Jean-Michel Jarre’s ‘Electronica 1: The Time Machine’ has been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Dance/Electronic Album category.
Five years in the making and the first half of what ultimately became a two-part album, ‘Electronica 1: The Time Machine’ featured a true who’s who list of collaborators and was conceived with Jarre’s wish to encompass the last few decades of electronic music into one mesmerising LP.
Looking to shed a light on the legacy – as well as the future – of electronic music, Jarre called on an array of global superstars to help record Electronica for the two-part release, with 15 of the final 30 artists featured on the now Grammy-nominated part one.
With each collaborator personally chosen by Jarre – part one included fellow French acts like M83’s Anthony Gonzalez, AIR and Gesaffelstein; British trailblazers such as The Who’s Pete Townshend, Depeche Mode/Erasure’s Vince Clarke and Little Boots’ Victoria Hesketh, Bristol-based Robert “3D” Del Naja (Massive Attack) and Fuck Buttons; cross-genre performance artists Moby and Laurie Anderson, Dutch producer Armin van Buuren; German outfits such as Tangerine Dream and Boys Noize as well as left-field picks like film director John Carpenter and a fellow Grammy-nominated Chinese classical pianist in the form of Lang Lang.
The release of ‘Electronica 1: The Time Machine’ was unmistakably Jarre’s most ambitious project to date and the results did not disappoint. The album broke into the Top 10 in over 25 countries worldwide and was lauded by the media for its vision, with The Guardian writing “by assembling such a stellar lineup, Jarre is reminding us of his status as a pioneer,” whilst The Sunday Times agreed with this notion, claiming “the French synth superstar and his collaborators here are an electronic dream team.” Mojo also got in on the act, labelling it “an unqualified triumph.” The album received positive reviews from the likes of The Evening Standard, Thump, Mixmag, Le Figaro and GQ amongst many others upon release.
Having garnered rave reviews for Part One, Part Two followed in a similar vein, featuring world-renowned acts such as The Pet Shop Boys, Primal Scream, Julia Holter, Peaches, Cyndi Lauper, Hans Zimmer and most notably, Edward Snowden on ‘Exit’ and being just as big a hit with the critics.
Most recently, Jarre unveiled the final chapter of his OXYGENE Trilogy, OXYGENE 3. Out now via Sony Music International and released 40 years on from the release of his groundbreaking first OXYGENE album, and 20 years on from its sequel, Jarre has now completed the Trilogy with seven new original compositions, titled OXYGENE parts 14-20, to cap off a trailblazing four decades in music. Take a listen HERE.
Jarre’s illustrious career has spanned over four decades and he is considered one of the founding fathers of electronic music. Just a few of his feats include selling over 75 million albums worldwide, holding the Guinness World Record for playing to the largest attendance in history (3.5 million in Moscow) and becoming the first Western musician to be invited to perform in post-Mao China in 1981.
Nominated alongside fellow electronic acts Flume, Tycho, Underworld and Louie Vega, this will be the second time Jarre has been in contention for a Grammy, having previously earned a nomination back in 1987 for his album ‘Rendez-Vous’.
Electronica 1: The Time Machine Tracklisting
1) The Time Machine (JMJ & Boys Noize)
2) Glory (JMJ & M83)
3) Close your eyes (JMJ & AIR)
4) Automatic (part 1) (JMJ & Vince Clarke)
5) Automatic (part 2) (JMJ & Vince Clarke)
6) If..! (JMJ & Little Boots)
7) Immortals (JMJ & Fuck Buttons)
8) Suns have gone (JMJ & Moby)
9) Conquistador (JMJ & Gesaffelstein)
10) Travelator (part 2) (JMJ & Pete Townshend)
11) Zero Gravity (JMJ & Tangerine Dream)
12) Rely on me (JMJ & Laurie Anderson)
13) Stardust (JMJ & Armin van Buuren)
14) Watching you (JMJ & 3D (Massive Attack))
15) A question of blood (JMJ & John Carpenter)
16) The train & the River (JMJ & Lang Lang)
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