Rendez-Vous

Please note that this is a review of the re-issued recording, not the album. Rendez-Vous is a superb album, and I have loved it since I bought it on vinyl and later on CD.Like many other Jarre fans, I was really excited to see a remastered version being released as part of Sony's 2014/15 reissue of JMJ's albums, and added this to my pre-order list. So, what went wrong?I was looking forward to testing out my stereo with a newly remastered version, remembering how my old speakers used to struggle with the deep booming opening track (poor old Matsui!) ... and as Rendez-Vous 1 filled the room it sent a shiver down my spine and goosebumps running along my arms - and then. And then Rendez-Vous 2. How the heck did this pass quality control? Did nobody bother listening to it? It sounds like how a tape sounds after the tape machine in a car has chewed up a tape, and you fix it with a pencil, but it wobbles and distorts ever after. Awful, bordering on sacrilegious.There are rumours of a re-issue of this re-issue, but in the meantime it remains here on Amazon UK to buy. Do not buy this, the January 2015 release. If it is going to be reissued, then wait for that, if not, then buy an old second hand copy of the previous CD.7/3/2015:I have just had confirmation from Sony Music Germany that a re-release was issued and a product recall offered to all sellers, but from having ordered a second copy a few days ago, I can confirm that Amazon in the UK continue to sell the faulty version. Please see the email I received from Sony Music Germany:"Hi Richard,there was a call-back for the remastered version you are talking about. A new version has been manufactured and has replaced the faulty version. Release date for that was 27th Feb. 2015.All retailers, incl. amazon, were informed and were invited to return the faulty versions. I cannot guarantee what version amazon offers, fact is that the corrected version should be sold.Best regardsRobin Steen"Shame on you, Amazon UK!

I have to say I really rather like this album! In stark contrast to its hugely elaborately-produced predecessor (Zoolook), Rendez-Vous goes for a much more stripped down and direct sound, with Jarre getting a big fat strident synth sounds, and playing big fat tunes on them. There's nowhere near the amount of meticulous innovative sound design of Zooklook, or the lush etherial layers of Oxygene or Equinoxe. Instead, Rendez-Vous is brash, loud, at times melodramatic, at times just bursting with pop glee (Part 4!) It can take balls of steel to pull this off without it seeming cheesy as hell, but hey - it's Jean-Michel Jarre! It's what he does! :)

This is a difficult review to writeIf I were reviewing the content alone, things would be far more simple, as this is one of the key albums for Jarre's mid 1980s concert pomp. It also marked a move away form the Fairlight-influenced sampling experimentalism of the previous three albums, Magnetic Fields, Music for Supermarkets and Zoolook.The album contains the signature Fourth Rendezvous, the melancholic and lovely Ron's Piece, as well as both Second and Third Rendezvous, adapted from pieces written earlier (La Morte du Cygne and La Belle et La Bête respectively). Second Rendezvous in particular is a piece of fabulously over the top 80s neo-Baroque bombast which worked perfectly in the context the 1986 Houston show. It remains a live favourite to this day, and for good reason.But, in the end all this is utterly ruined by the inept mastering. The EQ levels at the very beginning of First Rendezvous clipped bass so badly as to set my teeth on edge. Other reviews mention other parts that have been badly treated too. They do not exaggerate. If you can find a copy of the 1997 remaster - get that instead.So, 4 for the content. and one star for the remaster, only because I can't give zero.

A truly classic album, bought to replace a worn out vinyl copy. As good as I remember it.

Jean Michel Jarre is a master of the electronic genre and is always satisfying. This CD is really good and worth buying but the vinyl records are better.

Arrived in great order, and quick. Been 42yrs since I had this cd. Bought as backup as mine was mothballed along with 100's of others. Bought my first second hand player along with hooked on classics, both second hand. Hearing a cd for the first time was wonderful.

Always did love this, had a cassette (yes, music came on tape back then) of it ages ago but it wore out. Forgot about it & my partner reminded me.Bought it again & remember why I loved it.

There were no quality issues with the recording on the copy I ordered on Wed 16 Sep 2015 - Amazon's Prime stock must surely now contain only the good versions of this album. After reading the other reviews here, the first thing I did when I got it was try track 2... there are no issues so far, and I'm well beyond the times that other reviewers have discovered problems with.