Review by Colm O’Neill
Photos by Shane O’Neill
Jean Michel Jarre – The O2. Monday October 4th 2010
Having sold over 80 million records worldwide since his debut “Deserted Palace” was released in 1972, it’s no surprise to find The Point almost full to capacity tonight. Being a genuine pioneer of electronic music, I was thinking the place would be full to the brim with Trendy Toms and Indie Cindys, but I was surprised to find the average punter to be the wrong side of fifty. It seems that Mr. Jarre is to hipster electronica, what Snow Patrol are to hipster rock. Regardless, as soon as the lights dim and the show begins, I snuggle into position and await what people have been telling me is one of the most impressive concerts your ever likely to see.
I have always viewed JMJ with suspicious eyes. To me, his music has always seemed a bit… I don’t know, new age-y. Kind of like a CD that comes free with a self-help book you put on in the background when you’re having a hard time, or pan pipe music. His bazillion shifting Oxygène (still Frances biggest selling album of time!!!) and it’s not to shabby follow-up Équinoxe, just don’t hold up today the same way I think Kraftwerk or Tangerine Dream seem to. Having seen Kraftwerk last summer, which blew me away, I was looking forward to JMJ, hoping the live spectacle would come across better than the earphone experience.
Green lasers shoot into the sky. AMAZING! Wait, they’re not lasers, THEY, are the actual strings of Jean’s LASER HARP!!!!! Not a catchy phrase I’ve come up with, the actual name of the instrument that Mr. Jarre has created and plays himself by wearing special pads and creating sounds from lasers. I’m left on the edge of my seat for the remainder of the night. All the stops are pulled and at
times he seems to be reading my mind. Pretty much my favourite thing in the world is a Keytar. I love them. When a guy has got the biggest and loudest goddamn Keytar I’ve ever seen on stage and he’s playing it like Rhino!!! I’m in heaven! Songs that sound flat on the radio come to life on stage. The sound is as crystal clear as any gig I’ve been to and the light show would leave Muse feeling like little poos. Little poos who have a crap light show. Another highlight is the head camera that gets thrown on midway through. It’s dizzying how many knobs and twizzlers the guy has to navigate to get his alien sounds out of the speakers, when you can see him running around his little control centre, one can’t help but feel impressed.
The couple beside me have been nattering on about how “he hasn’t played Oxegene IV yet” and as he breaks for the encore they nearly have a little wee. The day is saved when he returns and announces he’s gonna play something “you might recognize” and in doing so, is making the awful couples every dream come through. The song apparently deserves a standing ovation when its done, even if its been a bit of a low point in my book. Not to worry though, he’s got a THERIMIN!! He has an aul’ go on that for a while and I’m only slightly less impressed than I was with the Keytar. The pup has the cheek to leave the stage for a second time, prompting half the crowd to leave, before coming on for a second encore. I must say when he finally wraps up his electronic goodies, I too am on my feet and fully meaning every clap I send his way. The show was literally incredible. I’m now the biggest Jean Michael Jarre fan in Ireland. I’m going straight into Tower tomorrow to purchase his entire back catalogue. I excitedly stick Oxygène on the I-pod as I begin my lonely walk back up the Quays. Yeah. . . . . Amazing stuff. . . . . .yeah. . . . . . yeh. . . . . . . .oh. . . . . . . . . Bit boring. . . . .Menu: .. . . . .Music: . . . . . . . . . Artists: . . . . . . . . . J, K,L, M. . . . . . Motley Crue. Nice one.
