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Ugo Group: Members Posts: 5495 Joined: April 2000 Posted: Mar. 24 2002, 17:51 Hi to all Vangelis fans amongst you. I'd like to ask some advice about what non-soundtrack Vangelis album(s) should I buy. I have three ST's - Blade Runner, Chariots of Fire, Antarctica - and the Themes album, but I'd like to hear some of his non-film work. A friend, here, suggested me buying Spiral and Direct - his best non-soundtrack works according to him. What do you think about these and what are your suggestions? P.S:: Please do not suggest buying compilation albums. I want to hear albums as they are, not snippets from albums. -------------- Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian Back to top

Baggiesfaninessex Group: Members Posts: 682 Joined: Mar. 2002 Posted: Mar. 24 2002, 18:46 Both 'Spiral' and 'Direct' are excellent starting points. There's not a dud track on either! From there, I would progress to 'Heaven and Hell' and 'Albedo .39' (earlier work), and 'Voices' and 'Oceanic' for later works. Your friend has good taste! -------------- “A dog is not intelligent. Never trust an animal that's surprised by its own farts.” - Frank Skinner Back to top

Ugo Group: Members Posts: 5495 Joined: April 2000 Posted: Mar. 24 2002, 19:42 I have Voices and Oceanic. Thanks for the advice on the other ones, however. -------------- Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian Back to top

TheInfection Group: Members Posts: 23 Joined: Dec. 2001 Posted: Mar. 25 2002, 05:39 Albedo 0.39 is good. It mixes jazz, rock and electronic elements perfectly. Altough the structure is somewhat messy. If you like grand, overblown music with a wonderful choir, Heaven And Hell is for you. Wonderful stuff. I don't like Spiral. The title track is great but that's it. Don't know why exactly. Regards, TheInfection Back to top

Man In Rain Group: Members Posts: 84 Joined: Sep. 2000 Posted: April 03 2002, 06:30 Hi Ugo, I'd recommend DIRECT - this is my favourite album, and IMHO the best one; it's a must get! I like also Albedo zero three niner, Antarctica, The City and Spiral. Back to top

Dervish_D Group: Members Posts: 53 Joined: Feb. 2001 Posted: April 09 2002, 13:22 1. Spiral - Deals with the topics: "infinity" and "immortality" - Except from "Ballad" Vangelis bases the songs on repetitive structures and lies priority on melody - It sounds very colourful, fresh and in no way artificial, though there are only Synths 2. Albedo 0.39 - Deals with "Earth and Space and Physics" - It's very powerful and the melodies divert from those typical Vangelis´ romantic and often predictable melodies - Although often rough, I think it's very meditative and spiritual 3. El Greco - refers to the painter El Greco - tries to capture the feelings of a suffering life - It's very religious and picturesque - Uses orchestra and choir for "intuitive" moves and solo instruments or voice for slow and sensitive structures within Back to top

Matt Group: Admins Posts: 1186 Joined: Nov. 2002 Posted: Sep. 10 2007, 09:06 After just being introduced by following up comments on another thread to the stunning "Ask the mountains" from Voices by I'm doing a quick search for possible album buys (alongside Voices that I think I might just have to leave work early today to buy...). Any updates to this thread from a while back on favorite Vangelis albums? I've always loved Jon & Vangelis but haven't investigated Vangelis solo works much. p.s. thanks Tubularman and Ugo, you've unwittingly made me very happy! -------------- "I say I say I say I say, what's got three bottles and five eyes and no legs and two wheels" Back to top

ProjectZ Group: Members Posts: 243 Joined: July 2002 Posted: Sep. 10 2007, 09:14 By the way : for people who like Vangelis' music, there is a new forum : Invisible Connections -------------- the VANGELIS forum : Invisible Connections ( http://www.vangelis.fr/ ) Back to top

Hifiguru Group: Members Posts: 275 Joined: Aug. 2002 Posted: Sep. 10 2007, 09:27 "Direct" is overall best from non soundtracks... "1492 Conquest of Paradise" is best from soundtracks. -------------- -TB Limited ultimate edition 2009 (still sealed) -Hergest Ridge Limited 2010 #017 -Ommadawn Limited 2010 #065 -Incantations Limited 2011 #003 -Platinum Limited 2012 #316 -QE2 Limited 2012 #112 -Opening Ceremony London 2012 #61 -Five Miles Out 2013 Limited LP #116 -Crises 2013 Limited LP #259 Back to top

arron11196 Group: Members Posts: 826 Joined: April 2005 Posted: Sep. 10 2007, 09:29 I'd say to start with Albedo 0.39. Many consider this to be the Vangelis album, and contains two of the most known tracks (Alpha and Pulstar). After that, I'd recommend getting Direct as well... fantastic composition, and like much of MO, so complex with free interpretation possible. -------------- Arron J Eagling Everyone's interpretation is different, and everyone has a right to that opinion. There is no "right" one, I am adding this post to communicate my thoughts to share them with like-minded souls who will be able to comment in good nature. (insert the last 5 mins of Crises here) Back to top

ProjectZ Group: Members Posts: 243 Joined: July 2002 Posted: Sep. 10 2007, 09:59 I'd recommand "Direct" and "Spiral" as non-soundtrack albums For soundtracks "1492" and "Blade Runner"... -------------- the VANGELIS forum : Invisible Connections ( http://www.vangelis.fr/ ) Back to top

ImAFoolAndImLaughing Group: Members Posts: 536 Joined: Feb. 2006 Posted: Sep. 10 2007, 12:02 "The City" and "See You Later" are two of his best albums, in my opinion - an eclectic mix of tunes on both of those, with some fascinating song "experiments" on the latter Also, "China" and "Soil Festivities" are both beautiful instrumental albums. "Beauburg" and "Heaven And Hell" are two to stay away from, however, unless you're into bizarre minimalist compilations ( ars would probably love them! ) -------------- "I was in this prematurely air conditioned supermarket and there were these bathing caps you could buy that had these kind of Fourth of July plumes on them that were red and yellow and blue and I wasn't tempted to buy one but I was reminded of the fact that I had been avoiding the beach." Back to top

Matt Group: Admins Posts: 1186 Joined: Nov. 2002 Posted: Sep. 10 2007, 12:17 Thanks for all the replies chaps. Sounds like "Direct" might be my first port of call after "Voices" but lots of other interesting recommendations noted. The only album of Vangelis I have heard (borrowed from a mate years ago) was Heaven and Hell. Maybe that is why I've not bothered with following up other albums before! Cheers Matt -------------- "I say I say I say I say, what's got three bottles and five eyes and no legs and two wheels" Back to top

arron11196 Group: Members Posts: 826 Joined: April 2005 Posted: Sep. 10 2007, 13:43 Ahh, I love Heaven & Hell! I can see why people would find it to be quite minimalistic. I tend to think of it as more of a soundtrack to a film which you make up in your head though... Through the first strains I can imagine the glory and power of visiting heaven, and in Movement III I see this beautiful description of what it would be like to enter the pearly gates. Then... you meet with your long lost love... So Long Ago, So Clear... makes that assertion for me. Part II is comparatively dark, my supposition is that this is the representation of Hell. My favourite section from this is "12 o'clock" - to me it sounds like a despairing lament for the singer's situation... then a bombastic battle rages until finally... you break free of Hell... back into the unknown and calm serenity. -------------- Arron J Eagling Everyone's interpretation is different, and everyone has a right to that opinion. There is no "right" one, I am adding this post to communicate my thoughts to share them with like-minded souls who will be able to comment in good nature. (insert the last 5 mins of Crises here) Back to top

CuNimb Group: Members Posts: 222 Joined: July 2003 Posted: Sep. 10 2007, 16:54 I agree with ImAFool, the city is a very good album!   -------------- Happy? ha ha ha.... Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: Sep. 11 2007, 09:55 Quote (TheInfection @ Mar. 25 2002, 11:39) I don't like Spiral. The title track is great but that's it. Don't know why exactly. Interesting, that's exactly what I think. The other tracks are nice, but no more than nice. Title track is on a whole different level, like all his energy went into that on this album. My favourite Vangelis album is Albedo 0.39, by the way; all of his albums that I've heard have had more or less the same mix of really intriguing stuff and bland, boring, and overblown stuff, but on that album, the "signal to noise" ratio seems to be the highest. Back to top

Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: Sep. 11 2007, 10:14 In Spiral, To the Unknown Man is to me a highlight - showing Vangelis' special talent for taking one beautiful melody and developing it way, way further than other musicians would dare to. Similar thing happens with Alpha, from Albedo 0.39 - my favourite record by him. I am also fascinated with the third movement from Heaven and Hell - its subdued glory dawned on me when I watched a few episodes of Cosmos. -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

olracUK Group: Members Posts: 1683 Joined: June 2003 Posted: Sep. 11 2007, 11:49 No-ones mentioned "China". I quite like that one. -------------- The answer is 42 - but what is the question? Back to top

Tati The Sentinel Group: Members Posts: 3360 Joined: Feb. 2002 Posted: Sep. 11 2007, 12:34 I recommend Heaven and Hell.It's a great album BTW ! -------------- "But it's always the outsider, the black sheep, that becomes the blockbuster." - Mike Oldfield, 2014 "I remember feeling that I'd been judged unfairly and that I was going to prove them wrong." - Peter Davison, 2011 Back to top

EeToN Group: Members Posts: 845 Joined: Sep. 2001 Posted: Sep. 11 2007, 16:04 'Heaven and Hell' is great indeed, especially it was listening to '12 O'Clock' live by Fugato, a Hungarian symphonic band who also play Mike Oldfield tributes. My favourite from 'Spiral' are 'Dervish D' and '3+3'. 'Ballad', anyone? -------------- If I were music, I would be Enigmatism. Back to top

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