This has become a classic piece of electronica, and the (surprisingly short) section Oxygène IV is probably the most instantly recognisable track, used as the bed for lots of TV shows, especially if they wanted to sound “high-tech”. I thought it was used for the Commodore 64 game Suicide Express, but after checking, this doesn’t seem to be the case. Other bits of Jarre were converted to the SID special, but not this one that I could find.
Comparisons are inevitable with the likes of Tangerine Dream, and Mike Oldfield, even though Oldfield used a mix of synth and real instruments. It’s different, more spacey, more electronic, not as pulsing as Tangerine Dream, not as musically varied as Tubular Bells. But also definitely of the same family. If you like one, you’ll probably like them all.
It’s probably more notable for the technology involved than for the music, I would say. Later Jarre is a bit more sophisticated, this still sounds quite experimental and the tracks are less of a journey than some of the kosmische rock. Arguably Jarre is the father of later French electronic groups like Stereolab and Air, and for that alone he deserves accolade in my book.
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