Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography

RÉVOLUTIONS

Jean-Michel Jarre

Prog Related


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Jean-Michel Jarre Révolutions album cover
3.12 | 88 ratings | 5 reviews | 7% 5 stars

Good, but non-essential

Write a review

Buy JEAN-MICHEL JARRE Music
from Progarchives.com partners
Studio Album, released in 1988

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Révolution Industrielle: Ouverture (5:11)
2. Révolution Industrielle, Pt. 1 (5:10)
3. Révolution Industrielle, Pt. 2 (2:17)
4. Révolution Industrielle, Pt. 3 (4:13)
5. London Kid (4:28)
6. Révolutions (4:56)
7. Tokyo Kid (5:23)
8. Computer Weekend (4:43)
9. September (4:06)
10. L'Émigrant (3:57)

Total Time: 44:24

Line-up / Musicians

- Jean-Michel Jarre / Synclavier, Roland D-50, Fairlight CMI II & III, Synthex, EMS Synthi AKS, OSC OSCar, EMS Vocoder, Dynacord ADD1 drum machine, Cristal Baschet, Akai MPC60, drums programming & percussions (6,7,9), computer vocals (6), producer

With:
- Michel Geiss / ARP 2600, KAWAI K5, Geiss Matrisequencer, Cavagnolo MIDY 20, Elka AMK 800, computer vocals (6)
- Dominique Perrier / E-mu Emulator, Fairlight CMI, Ensoniq ESQ-1, Roland D-50 & D-550, Synthex, OSC Oscar, AKAI MPC-60 programming
- Francis Rimbert / programming
- Guy Delacroix / bass
- Joe Hammer / drums, electronic drums Simmons SDX, Dynacord ADD1 drum machine
- Hank Marvin / guitar (5)
- Sylvain Durand / Fairlight CMI (5)
- Jun Miyake / trumpet & megaphone (7)
- The Bruno Rossignol Choir / chorus vocals (1,2,10)
- Bruno Rossignol / choir director (1-5,10)
- Female Choir from Mali / chorus vocals (9)
- Sori Bamba / choir director (9)
- Mireille Pombo / chorus vocals (9)
- François Kervorkian / Fx (6)
- Xavier Bellenger / Muezzin Turkish chants recordings (6)
- Kudsi Erguner / ney (6, up until 1997)
- Al Mawsili / Classic Arab string ensemble (6, from 1997 on)
- Larbi Ouechni / ensemble conductor (6, from 1997 on)

Releases information

Artwork: Mark Fisher (art direction)

LP Disques Dreyfus - 837 421-1 (1988, France)

CD Disques Dreyfus - 837 421-2 (1988, France)
CD Disques Dreyfus - 837 421 2 (1991, France) Remastered (?)
CD Disques Dreyfus - FDM 36148-2 (1997, FRance) 24-bit remaster by Scott Hull; track 6 remixed
CD Sony Music - 88875046382 (2015, Europe) Remastered from original tapes by Dave Dadwater

Thanks to AndYouAndI for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
Edit this entry

Buy JEAN-MICHEL JARRE Révolutions Music



JEAN-MICHEL JARRE Révolutions ratings distribution


3.12
(88 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of rock music(7%)
7%
Excellent addition to any rock music collection(33%)
33%
Good, but non-essential (40%)
40%
Collectors/fans only (17%)
17%
Poor. Only for completionists (3%)
3%

JEAN-MICHEL JARRE Révolutions reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Bj-1
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Highly uneven effort from Jarre, and not nearly as good as his previous "Rendez-Vous" album released two years before it. Some of the material here works well, especially the "Industrial Revolution" suite that opens this album. This suite is among the best works of Jarre, though it's pretty unusual compared to his earlier epics, this one is a cold and mechanic and has a chilling feeling to it. A brilliant contribution to the album overall. The rest, however, is not that good at all! Tracks like "September" and "The Emigrant" does not appeal to me at all and I really dislike them, but "London Kid" and "Computer Weekend" are both very good, but the title track is the best one here next to the "Industial Revolution" suite. The album varies from different genres, mechanical to pop, arabian influenced to computer music. It's interesting to listen to, but sadly some of the material does not appeal to me at all. Nice try JMJ, but if the whole album could have been an extended version of the "Industrial" suite instead of the weaker tracks here, this one would recieive 4.5/5, maybe even a perfect 5 star.

3.5/5

Review by Easy Livin
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
4 stars One good turn. . .

"Revolutions" seems to have become rather lost in the succession of JM Jarre releases, which is a pity as it is actually an album worthy of investigation. The title is a play on words, as the album is not about rotation but adopts a loose theme of various types of revolution and their effect on the children who endured them.

The 16 minute opening suite is a four part interpretation of the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. The opening section uses industrial sounds (that does not mean industrial music, it means hammers etc.!) to provide the rhythm. Jarre plays out various themes on synthesisers the general feel of the piece being appropriately cold and mechanical. There is something about the piece which sets it aside from Jarre's usual cinematic offerings, making it one of his finest works.

The first side of the album is completed by "London kid", a track which features the guitar of Hank Marvin (famous in is own right, and as part of 60's combo The Shadows). Marvin's trademark guitar offers a wonderful diversion from the coldness of the synthesiser, while the Bruno Rossignol choir adds some fine vocal colours.

Side two consists of five shorter pieces, which are firmly focused on the 20th century. The title track is an odd mix of ethnic influences (including Turkish flute and Muezzin chant) and computerised voices. The rhythms are straight from the floor of the disco, although not quite as frantic. Jun Miyake adds some interesting trumpet to "Tokyo kid" in another deviation from what might be expected. "Computer weekend" sounds distinctly symphonic, with strange synthesised voices drifting in and out. In truth though, it is the weakest track on the album.

"September" is dedicated to Dulcie September, an anti-apartheid activist who was assassinated in 1988. The ethnic rhythms of the track are brought to the fore to support the vocals of a Mali female choir. The album closes with "The emigrant", an anthemic piece with further contribution from the Bruno Rossignol choir.

In all, this is one of Jarre's most striking and original albums. It is good to see him moving out of his comfort zone, and exploring a number of territories unfamiliar to him. The results are in the main excellent with a few hidden treasures for those who appreciate Jarre's music, but who have overlooked this release.

Review by ZowieZiggy
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars When I listened to "Révolution Industrielle", it was almost impossible for me not to think about the Chaplin movie "Modern Times".

This mini suite (almost seventeen minutes) is probably one of the darkest song from JM. Obscure, tenebrous, mechanical, inhuman, oppressive, cold, mighty. At a certain time of Part I, the mood is somewhat more optimistic and light. Maybe to avoid suicide?But the gloomy atmosphere comes back pretty fast.

"Révolutions" is one of the least commercial piece from JM so far (although Part II is more melodic and in line with some prior works). I guess that by now, he could impose his will to whoever in the musical industry and felt strong enough to release this strong, but less accessible epic.

The languishing Part IV leads the listener to a "greyer" vision: some sort of mix between joy and fear. A fine closing for this very special piece of music.

This album is dedicated to the revolutionary people in general, but mostly to the children who (according the back sleeve) "carry the revolution within them". Hence, "London as well as Tokyo Kid". The former is more "refreshing", less horrifying than the suite. Good for the morale?The latter, on the contrary is quite hermetic and on the dark side again. It provides a feeling of total dehumanization.

The last three songs of the album are less convincing even if the bombastic aspect of "L' Émigrant" is quite moving. An hymn to all these people that leave their countries to settle elsewhere and start a new life. Some sort of instrumental "Refugees" (VDGG).

This album started very promisingly but the whole is not on par. Seven out of ten. Reduced down to three stars.

Review by SouthSideoftheSky
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Symphonic Team
2 stars Viva le revolution!

My first experience with Jean Michel Jarre was his well-known Oxygene album which I must admit I don't like much at all. I do enjoy the most obvious parts of that album (Oxygene parts II and IV) but the rest of it is just transportation to my ears. Revolution is a very different beast; a bit more melodic, a bit more rhythmic, less experimental and not strictly electronic. The album is partly conceptual and the theme of the album is simply change and different kinds of revolution. The opening 16 minute, four-part suite is dedicated to the industrial revolution. This surprisingly symphonic piece is one of the best works I've heard from Jean Michel Jarre (but I have only heard a few of his many albums up to this point). He cleverly uses a "mechanical" and propulsive rhythm here to depict the mechanization of this historical period. Some works of Kraftwerk readily comes to mind, especially Trans-Europe Express and its Metal On Metal.

The other track here that is obviously connected to the overall theme of the album is the title track and this is also the best track apart from the four-part suite. Again, I'm reminded of Kraftwerk here particularly given the sparse and very "robotic" vocals - the only vocals you find on this album (except some choirs on September). The World-Music influence does however put it apart from Kraftwerk. I don't explicitly remember ever hearing this song before, but it somehow feels like a classic.

The rest of the album is much weaker and lacks a clear direction. Computer Weekend is a decent piece very much in the style of Vangelis circa Spiral, but quite unexciting. The two "kids", London Kid and Tokyo Kid, are also not bad as such, but quite unremarkable. The former of these numbers is notable for featuring Hank Marvin of The Shadows on guitar while the latter is a slow, jazzy piece drenched in trumpet. The problem with these numbers is that they are rather one-dimensional and never seem to get off the ground. September is a rather tedious number with a very repetitive and unimaginative yeah-yeah-yeah vocal. The bombastic The Emigrant comes as something of a relief and rounds the album off well enough.

To sum up. Revolutions contains some very good material but also some rather trite and dull material. What started so well sadly ended up in mediocrity towards the end.

Latest members reviews

3 stars What Bj-1 said - uneven. "Industrial Revolution" is a fascinating suite, full of mechanical and digital noises, and with a somewhat dark atmosphere (it seems to me). The title track is probably the highlight for me - an eerie pipe intro and tension-building bass synth crashes into a pounding ... (read more)

Report this review (#55803) | Posted by | Thursday, November 10, 2005 | Review Permanlink

Post a review of JEAN-MICHEL JARRE "Révolutions"

You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.