: The performance starts with Jarre framed by the towering green beams. As the tempo builds, the surrounding LED screens display synchronized 3D graphics that give the audience a sense of traveling through a digital vortex.
: The track features a driving, rhythmic sequence that highlights the "plucking" nature of the laser harp. It combines classic analog synth sounds with modern, aggressive EDM production.
The Laser Harp is Jarre's most iconic stage prop, originally debuted in the early 1980s. Unlike a traditional harp, it uses high-powered green laser beams that act as "strings." jean_michel_jarre_the_time_machine_live_laser_harp
: The song itself was a collaboration with Boys Noize, reflecting the album's theme of connecting electronic music's past (Jarre) with its present and future. Impact and Legacy
For fans, seeing the Laser Harp live is a ritual. During "The Time Machine," it serves as more than just a musical instrument; it is a piece of performance art. : The performance starts with Jarre framed by
Jean-Michel Jarre ’s performance during "The Time Machine" represents the pinnacle of his Electronica World Tour (2016–2018), blending retro-futuristic technology with modern visual storytelling. The Instrument: The Laser Harp
: While newer digital instruments exist, the Laser Harp remains Jarre’s signature because of its sheer scale and the precision required to play it without "ghost notes" or sensor errors in a stadium environment. It combines classic analog synth sounds with modern,
: It represents Jarre’s lifelong obsession with the "physicality" of electronic music—trying to make invisible sounds visible and tangible.