"Equinoxe Infinity" is the twentieth studio album by French musician and composer Jean-Michel Jarre, released on 16 November 2018 by Columbia Records. It is the sequel to his fourth studio release, Equinoxe (1978), released forty years prior.
Recording Jarre used both analog and digital instruments for this album. At first he was going to use the analog instruments that he used in Equinoxe, but then he changed his mind "because if I was once again the young guy I was when I began that LP 40 years ago, I would use the instruments available today." Among the instruments he used was the prototype of a small synthesizer that Jarre discovered on Kickstarter called the granular GR-1 made by the company Tasty Chips Electronics. This instrument was used to process a child's voice giving him a surreal and technological look on the track "If the Wind Could Speak (movement 5)". Jarre explained that he intentionally shortened it to make a link to "Band In The Rain" (from Equinoxe Part 8) from the 1978 album.
Artwork Jean-Michel asked an artist from Prague named Filip Hodas to make two covers based on Michel Granger's design, Le trac for the original álbum, one in green and blue to symbolize a peaceful and harmonious future, and another that reflects a more apocalyptic and dystopian world. "The album is the soundtrack to both these futures, with some parts sounding more uplifting and poppy and others more dark."
Critical reception
Aaron Badgley of The Spill Magazine wrote that "What Jarre does on this album, which makes it so great, is to develop a somewhat retro sound. This is electronic music from the ‘70s, with a little technology from today, and it adds to the overall album."
Track listing
Personnel Personnel specified in the album notes: Jean-Michel Jarre – publication, composition, production and mixing Stephane Gervais – production assistance Patrick Pelamourgues – technical assistance David Perreau – mastering Filip Hodas – artwork (based in original by Michel Granger) Peter Lindbergh – portrait Eric BDFCK Cornic – graphic design
Equipment Adapted from liner notes:
Yamaha CS-80 ARP 2600 EMS VCS 3, EMS Synthi AKS Eminent 310 Unique Roland Paraphonic 505 Minipops Mellotron Korg PA-600 Korg Polyphonic Ensemble P Korg MS-20, GRI Erica Synths Modular System OPI Modular Roland System 500 1 & 8 Roland Boutiques Clavia Nord Lead 2 Clavia Nord Modular Electro-Harmonix Small Stone Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress Big Sky & Capistan Moog Sub 37 Moog Taurus 1 Animoog Arturia Arp 2600 Arturia CS80 Spectrasonics Omnisphere Native Instruments Kontakt Native Instruments Reaktor Synapse Dune 2 Synapse The Legend Spitfire Audio Boom Native Instruments Replica XT u-he Satin ValhallaDSP Digisequencer
Charts Chart (2018) Peak position French Albums (SNEP) 20 Italian Albums (FIMI) 84 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) 13
References