A very positive review of the o2 concert-
Jean-Michel Jarre
The O2 arena
5/5
IN A NUTSHELL
Jarre's appearance in North Greenwich was an epic spectacle even without the fireworks ...writes Michael Murray.
REVIEW
Jean-Michel Jarre is regarded as a pioneer of electronic music, as well as an organiser of outdoor spectacles featuring lights, laser displays and fireworks.
But the last time he was in Docklands - October 1988 - high winds and heavy rain threatened to ruin the night for the 200,000-strong crowd.
This time Jarre played it safe, appearing indoors at The O2 arena, and, after a 15-minute wait, he bounded down the stairs at the back of the auditorium and onto the stage, surfing a wave of rapturous applause.
The 62-year-old looked like a man half his age as he leapt around the performance space, gamely announcing that it was "nice to have a roof tonight".
And visually his epic laser show more than made up for the lack of fireworks.
As for the music, in addition to a smorgasbord of analogue synths, Jarre brought out his trusty theremin and spectacular laser harp - played by blocking the beams of light.
The bass was crisp and clear and the haunting melodies washed pleasantly over the crowd.
The majority of tracks were from his earliest albums Equinoxe and Oxygène, but it was not until he played Rendez-Vous that the crowd, mainly of 40-somethings, got to their feet and clapped along to the music.
At the end of the track the audience politely sat back down to watch the remainder of the show that ended with Oxygène as an encore.
For Jarre fans this was an excellent evening's entertainment (although the two-hour set flew by) - it was just what was expected.
For the uninitiated it proved an excellent introduction to one of electronic music's awe-inspiring pioneers.
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