Jean Michel Jarre & Gesaffelstein – Conquistador – (RCA Records)
DMC World Magazine
From the first beat to the last, the product of the unlikeliest pairing in music this year, that of Jean Michel Jarre and the Prince of dark brooding techno Gesaffelstein (production credits including Kanye West, Lana Del Ray, Rocky, A$AP and ‘Maryland’ Cannes Festival movie soundtrack ) sounds like ‘Midnight Express’ being brutally yet beautifully derailed in Luc Besson’s ‘Subway’ . Heavily reliant on 80’s arpeggiated synth sounds and patterns but also 2015 box fresh, ‘Conquistador’ revels in its stuttering atmospheric choral euphoria that swoop and land and take off again. It’s a high speed synth powered bullet train that crunches and crushes its way through solid brick beats, a bone crushing kick and the sort of internal tension that could rip your spinal column out with the nerves still attached. It’s a powerful and extraordinary piece of music that ushers in a new album and a new phase for Jarre and is destined for a soundtrack album or syncing to a TV series. For me, it’s the perfect accompaniment to a dramatic sunset with heavy, humid air and a storm brewing. High theatrics from two of the most talented producers of electronic music in their respective fields. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the album. Admirable.
