Beaubourg (album)

Beaubourg is a studio album by the French electronic composer Vangelis, released in 1978. It is a largely experimental and avant-garde work, characterized by its abstract, minimalist, and often dissonant electronic sounds. The album consists of two lengthy tracks, "Beaubourg Part I" and "Beaubourg Part II", each occupying one side of the original LP. The title refers to the Centre Georges Pompidou, also known as the Beaubourg, a modern art museum in Paris.

The album is known for its challenging and unconventional nature. It departs significantly from Vangelis's more melodic and accessible works, such as Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner. Beaubourg is considered a difficult listen by many, due to its lack of traditional structure, melody, and rhythm. The soundscapes are created using synthesizers and other electronic instruments to produce a variety of unsettling and abstract sounds, often described as industrial, mechanical, and almost alien.

While not commercially successful, Beaubourg has garnered a cult following among fans of experimental electronic music and is considered an important and influential work in the genre. It represents a significant departure from Vangelis's mainstream sound and showcases his willingness to explore unconventional musical territory. It is a controversial album, with some praising its innovative sound design and others dismissing it as unlistenable.