Blah Blah Cafe, the Jean-Michel Jarre forum

[Dr_Jones]

After a first listen of the CD, I did not hear any of the previous obvious errors in Ethnicolor. There is however a drop-out at 0:51 in Zoolookologie.

[Finaero]

I think that dip is also in the 1997 version

[nexxxus]

I think that dip is also in the 1997 version

yes I confirm.
So too bad that all the content around this 1984 release (remixes, maxi versions, videos etc...) are not included in this 40th anniversary edition!

[Jote]

After a first listen of the CD, I did not hear any of the previous obvious errors in Ethnicolor. There is however a drop-out at 0:51 in Zoolookologie.

Looking at the ACTUAL track times it's the "fixed" version uploaded to the streaming services in December 2024, which is more-or-less the 1997 version.

[Kanta]

[plate of chips]

Such a work art the whole album.
Deserves to be remastered accordingly, not the ham fisted way its been remastered.

[Kanta]

28/02/2025 via Jean-Michel Jarre’s Official Instagram.

[mpk]

So, before I purchase this.. is it fair to say that this 40th anniversary issue has not resolved the issues with previous reissues?
I bought this in 84 when it came out, it blew me away, I've always wanted to hear this as it was supposed to sound, not compressed and with the bugs fixed... but this seems to have been another opportunity missed. The delay due to mastering issues should have given us a definitive edition?. Next stop Steve Hoffman website to see if there is more info there..

[czt]

Polydor 823 763-2 01 (or any other first CD release) remain "the" Zoolook for me. Obviously not a fan (as members of the mentioned forum) of the "Dadwater" "processing", unlike J-M in the last 20 years.

[Jote]

So, before I purchase this.. is it fair to say that this 40th anniversary issue has not resolved the issues with previous reissues?
I bought this in 84 when it came out, it blew me away, I've always wanted to hear this as it was supposed to sound, not compressed and with the bugs fixed... but this seems to have been another opportunity missed. The delay due to mastering issues should have given us a definitive edition?. Next stop Steve Hoffman website to see if there is more info there..

What issues were there with previous reissues? What were the issues with the 84 release?

[mpk]

Discogs goes into detail about the versions and mastering - i was interested to see Czt's reply. I have not heard the original first issue cd though.
I have the '85 '02' copy with tracks switched. I also have the 1997 RM and i'm not so keen on the edits. Imo the market for cds today, and reissues, are largely enthusiasts?
Some 40th reissues are excellent (Prince's SotT), some not so much....

[nexxxus]

Sorry to bring this up again but unfortunately I just got the CD edition and I hear these clicks that appeared in streaming after apologies and correction of major sound bugs after 10 minutes. These clicks are audible as some people here have heard from the beginning of Ethnicolor to the beginning of the finale of the song (around 7 minutes).
What a disappointment.
There is the consolation of the mini poster and the little booklet, not even

[Dr_Jones]

While we're on the subject of remastering... If you thing JMJ fans have a bad time, look at this:


THEY AUTO-TUNED FREDDY MERCURY FOR THE 2024 QUEEN 1 REMASTER!!!!
I am shocked.

[shadow]

lol, who the hell greenlit that change?!

[czt]

The equation is simple. J-M is obsessed with technology, even if current "technology" is a degeneration. So the masters they make with Perreau, almost always will be too compressed/blunt ("mastering for loudness"), too heavily equalized ("warmness"), and too saturated ("spatialization").

They never do an ABX comparison (with loudness match), which would immediately show the sad truth (eg. Magnetic Fields Part 2 800 024-2 03 or 04 vs. 88843024702).