A History of Electronic Music’

Jean-Michel Jarre is publishing his first ever book. ‘Machines: A History of Electronic Music’ arrives on November 24, 2026 through Thames & Hudson. Meanwhile, pre-orders are live now at Thames & Hudson USA. Notably, the 368-page hardcover pulls from the pioneer’s own archive. Indeed, it holds one of the world’s largest collections of electronic instruments. Through 130 specially photographed pieces, Jean-Michel Jarre traces a century of sonic experimentation. Moreover, iconic modular synths, rare prototypes, and bespoke one-offs all feature. In total, the finished object clocks in at 400 illustrations and a $65 hardcover price tag.

Beyond the archive, the book pairs personal reflection with expert commentary. Furthermore, rare archival material and technical schematics sit alongside stills from Jarre’s live shows. Crucially, he revisits his childhood fascination with reel-to-reel tape. He also unpacks his time in Paris studying under Pierre Schaeffer at the Groupe de Recherches Musicales. From there, the narrative moves through Luigi Russolo’s 1913 Futurist manifesto ‘The Art of Noises’. Meanwhile, it also heads into Surrealism, the Bauhaus, and pioneering studios like the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and Radio France. In turn, each chapter uses one machine to unlock one moment in the timeline.

Notably, Jean-Michel Jarre isn’t going it alone. In addition, contributions come from a stacked cast. Armin van Buuren headlines the list. Alongside him, Vince Clarke of Depeche Mode and Erasure weighs in. Others include Gillian Gilbert of New Order, Air’s Nicolas Godin, and Richie Hawtin. Beyond that, Johnny Marr, Gary Numan, Benjamin John Power, and Duran Duran’s Nick Rhodes round it out. Together, they trace tape manipulation and analogue synthesis. Then it’s the digital revolution, 3D recording, immersive multimedia, and AI-assisted performance. Indeed, the timing is deliberate. In 2026/2027 Jean-Michel Jarre marks the 50th anniversary of his landmark 1976 album ‘Oxygène’. Fresh off headlining Paris 2024’s Paralympic closing ceremony and playing Coachella, ‘Machines’ arrives as the perfect scene-setter for the anniversary run. Ultimately, long-time fans now have the ultimate coffee-table companion.