Something to smile about - Jarre's Téo & Téa

Jean-Michel Jarre, that funky old romantic is releasing a new album worldwide tomorrow (26th March). It's called Téo & Téa.

After a few year's in a personal and creative wilderness, and the last few albums being ok but not great, the Grandfather of the Synth has gone back to his roots, and made an album that succeeds in being full of energy, true Jarre, while probably being his most accessible album to date.

People afraid of the long allegorical tracks that are a Jarre tradition, need not be concerned. The shorter and downright funky tracks will hopefully introduce many a stranger to Jarre's work – they'll be getting down to it in no time at all.

Yet, there are more than a few “Proofs of Jarre” evident, with many of his signature sounds and textures animating the music with layers and depth as well as being fun.

And the thing I find most heartening is that Jean-Michel Jarre, that wonderful old romantic, despite all the suffering he's endured (some of which was of his own making) has with this album re-affirmed his faith in Love. More specifically that hard to quantify yet timelessly astonishing period of New Love. He mentions this in an interview with Metro International.

The names Téo and Téa are abbreviated from Theodore, which is derived from the Greek name Θεοδωρος (Theodoros), which means "gift of god" from Greek θεος (theos) "god" and δωρον (doron) "gift". It more than amply symbolises the astonishing richness and urgent energy of two people in the initial stage of falling in Love. That tremendous vigour, the unprecedented rapport and divine necessity that animates those intensely stimulating moments in time.

This music encapsulates this phenomena, if you wish to listen for it. For many however it's simply awesomely funky music.

As he has done in the past, Jarre delivers a whole package, magnificent music that is more than the sum of it's parts, and for those who are interested, food for thought. Thank you again Jean-Michel!