release date: Nov. 1984
format: cd (2015 remaster - 30th Anniversary Edition)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,98]
producer: Jean Michel Jarre
label: Sony Music - nationality: France
Track highlights: 1. "Ethnicolor I" - 2. "Diva" - 5. "Zoolookologie"
7th studio album by Jean Michel Jarre released a year after his official studio release Musique pour Supermarché, which was a bit of a publicity stunt as only one copy of the album was pressed after which the master tapes were destroyed in order to make the copy unique and to fund charity purpose.
Zoolook continue Jarre's exploration of his progressive electronic into synthpop and with sound collages.
I recall rejecting the album as superficial and tedious synthesizer pop, but I have to admit that it has its interesting moments in exploring a sort of link between instrumental electronic and more popular music tradition guest appearances featuring jazz and funk bassist Marcus Miller, art rock fusion rock experimental guitarist Adrian Below and electronic minimalist Laurie Anderson.
The album has a more experimental touch than his previous more pop-founded album Les Chants Magnétiques from 1981, although, the track "Zoolookologie" fits more with his newly-discovered pop period.
I think, it's an interesting development of style but I also find that it a mixed bag pointing in too many directions.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 ]
