Simply Splendid, 19 Nov 2008
Heaven And Hell - Vangelis :- The words Perfect and Life Enhancing spring to mind. If you don't have this work in your collection,then you are a very poor person (musically). Sell your house and car,indeed your soul if need be, BUT GET THIS MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF WORK!

the first solo album on RCA that fanfared a great talent, 11 May 2008
The first solo album and a great epic championed to a rock audience by the greatly missed Alan "Fluff" Freeman. Good themes with lots of monk style cloister vocals, scary synth effects and three absolute highlights: the Jon Anderson sung "So long ago so clear" -one of the very best songs he has ever written (and I am counting all his Yes classics) and sung - beautiful. The other stand outs are a galloping synth theme which has a Ride of the Valkries type feel and the main theme itself. There is a great atmosphere throughout moving from themes of dread and joy echoing the work with his previous 60s group on the classic 666.

The only downside and the reason why I have not awarded five stars, is that there are only two track entry points on the CD, so the three tracks I have referred to above are not listed and can not be accessed separately. I am sure there were at least two-three track points on each side of the vinyl album, even if the tracks had no individual names. This CD urgently needs remastering, including new additional track entry points so that you can easily access favourite sections.

breathtaking, 20 Oct 2005
I am a fan of Vangelis and spend hours listening. Heaven and hell is uplifting, mixing classic and modern, violent and peaceful. I particularly like the drums and the discordant parts...I strongly recommend.

Even better 2nd time round, 09 Mar 2005
Being of a certain age I brought this album first time round and spent hours mentally drifting and mediatating to the music. I had lost contact with it and have found my way back to it via the track 12 oclock, I'm now about to buy it again.

A Trip through the Cosmos with Vangelis, 17 May 2003
I first encountered Heaven & Hell when viewing the TV Series Cosmos, written and presented by Dr Carl Sagan. The music haunted me for days until I discovered it had been written by Vangelis and was available as the album Heaven and Hell.

The haunting electronic melody takes the listener on a journey through time and space with changes in tempo which constantly keep you wondering what is coming next but at the same time, guiding you along the path, building to a crescendo with fury similar to 'Mars in The PLanets Suite. I venture to compare it to use this comparison but purists may well disagree.

An album for which to set-aside time and drift off onto a higher plain.

Simply Splendid, 19 Nov 2008
Heaven And Hell - Vangelis :- The words Perfect and Life Enhancing spring to mind. If you don't have this work in your collection,then you are a very poor person (musically). Sell your house and car,indeed your soul if need be, BUT GET THIS MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF WORK!

the first solo album on RCA that fanfared a great talent, 11 May 2008
The first solo album and a great epic championed to a rock audience by the greatly missed Alan "Fluff" Freeman. Good themes with lots of monk style cloister vocals, scary synth effects and three absolute highlights: the Jon Anderson sung "So long ago so clear" -one of the very best songs he has ever written (and I am counting all his Yes classics) and sung - beautiful. The other stand outs are a galloping synth theme which has a Ride of the Valkries type feel and the main theme itself. There is a great atmosphere throughout moving from themes of dread and joy echoing the work with his previous 60s group on the classic 666.

The only downside and the reason why I have not awarded five stars, is that there are only two track entry points on the CD, so the three tracks I have referred to above are not listed and can not be accessed separately. I am sure there were at least two-three track points on each side of the vinyl album, even if the tracks had no individual names. This CD urgently needs remastering, including new additional track entry points so that you can easily access favourite sections.

breathtaking, 20 Oct 2005
I am a fan of Vangelis and spend hours listening. Heaven and hell is uplifting, mixing classic and modern, violent and peaceful. I particularly like the drums and the discordant parts...I strongly recommend.

Even better 2nd time round, 09 Mar 2005
Being of a certain age I brought this album first time round and spent hours mentally drifting and mediatating to the music. I had lost contact with it and have found my way back to it via the track 12 oclock, I'm now about to buy it again.

A Trip through the Cosmos with Vangelis, 17 May 2003
I first encountered Heaven & Hell when viewing the TV Series Cosmos, written and presented by Dr Carl Sagan. The music haunted me for days until I discovered it had been written by Vangelis and was available as the album Heaven and Hell.

The haunting electronic melody takes the listener on a journey through time and space with changes in tempo which constantly keep you wondering what is coming next but at the same time, guiding you along the path, building to a crescendo with fury similar to 'Mars in The PLanets Suite. I venture to compare it to use this comparison but purists may well disagree.

An album for which to set-aside time and drift off onto a higher plain.

Got to have it., 05 Nov 2008
Blade Runner changed my life, I was born in 1979 so wasn't able to appreciate the film until it had been out a good 13 years (I actually saw the director's cut first). I bought the original soundtrack in 1999 and it has been an integral part of my life ever since, I have just discovered by accident that this album has been released, I'm so excited I might wee myself...

I apologise that this isn't actually a review but if you take my advice now to please buy this album then it was not a waste of your time to have read it. It is quite simply the most sublime soundtrack to a film ever made. A moment of clarity that only comes along once or twice a century...

Definitive soundtrack!, 01 Oct 2008
I always considered Vangelis' work for the "Blade Runner" soundtrack to be one of the most accomplished and definitive pieces he ever did for the universe of film. The music featured here is so evocative, its impact is so profound that it makes my mind travel through the most beautiful visions and landscapes. I would dare using Rutger Hauer's Batty final speech here: "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe! Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion... I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate... All those moments will be lost in time... like tears... in rain..." Except that those moments won't be lost in time for me, because they will forever be imprinted in my memories as some of the single most dazzling and wonderful that I have ever experienced when listening to music!

Wonderful!, 11 May 2008
The film is a stunning visual masterpiece. The Vangelis soundtrack is simply wonderful to listen to. It really does take you there. After watching the film again (Final cut edition). I found myself going back to parts of the film with the music that moved me. The mixture of piano and synths add power and sweetness to this film noir.
High lights for me was the opening theme as the spinner made it's a way across the city. The Love Theme is simply a beautiful piece of music which builds up nicely. Tear's in the rain, One Alone, and Fading away.


Best Vangelis release in recent times., 29 Mar 2008
I too am fed up with Blade Runner geeks harping on about the perfect bladerunner album.

What we have here is the best product vangelis has released in recent times. You get to hear some marvels in their entirety. Such as
'At Mr Chews', 'Deckard and Roys Duel' and 'Mechanical Toys'. The crown jewels of cd 2 is the sublime 'Desolation Path', which is perhaps evidence that some of Vangelis' best work still remains unreleased and is likely to remain so. As far as the Blade Runner score is concerned, everything worth putting in is here. The bits left out are effective as an underscore and probably wouldnt be worthwhile album material.

CD3 is at it should be different enough from the film and a new work. It is in the ilk of the albums 'The City' and 'Direct', which are the most underated works Vangelis has released. The track 'Spotkanie Z Matka' is subtly haunting and I still find myself humming the melody. The CD is just that, subtle and beautifuly put together without any over the top bombast.

I would say seasoned Vangelis fans would enjoy this product and is great value for money. Those that are more from the Blade Runner camp should also be thankfull and stop taking apart what is a great film and score. Film music is written to support and add to the film and picture and not every single not is suitable for an album. The product is just right and doesnt go into self gratification mode.
Next stop the unreleased music from 1492!

Forget the soundtrack, listen to the MUSIC, 28 Mar 2008
In many of the reviews I read here, I see that people seem more concerned with owning absolutely every note of music that existed in the movie (however irrelevant it may have been) than the music itself. Disk three, which is all new material, didn't even seem to interest some of the reviewers, who complain because disk 2 is not an exact repetition of what is present in the film. My review discusses the music, and the man who stands behind it, not the movie.

Those who are familiar with Vangelis know that most of his movie soundtracks have little in common with the music actually used in the movie. That is, Vangelis seems to concentrate more on releasing an album which can actually be listened to as music, and not as mere film cues. This part I always liked. If you want to get a faithful soundtrack of the movie, why waste money on your precious bootlegs? Just watch the movie!! Enjoy the music during the movie, 'cause it's hardly worth listening to without it.

Disk 1 is the same as the Blade Runner Soundtrack, released in 1994, no surprises there. Disk 2 is a collection of previously unreleased material written for the movie. This CD will not blow you away as far as memorable melodies, except for track 6, which is absolutely gorgeous. There are other tracks with nice melodies too; however, the main attraction of this CD should be the mood and atmosphere generated by the tracks. They remind one of the unique style Vangelis once had during the early eighties. I think this CD is the highlight of the set.

Disk three is perhaps the reason why I gave this CD set only three stars. I actually like it for the most part. But I don't find it memorable. Sadly, as much as I am a big fan of Vangelis, I think that those days, marked by his remarkable creativity and uniqueness, are behind for good. Let's face it, perhaps one of the reasons why Vangelis no longer releases studio albums is because he has nothing new, fresh or unique to release. You still occasionally bump into some of his recent work, which has that spark that only Vangelis can deliver. Such sparce examples can be found in themes like "Young Alexander" in the Alexander soundtrack. However, one thing you will find absent in this album, and it has been absent in most of his recent work, is that touch that made his music stand out from the norm, those wonderful surprises that always kept you wondering where his music was going next. Gone seems to be his desire to experiment with sound. And perhaps it's hard to blame him for this, especially since keyboards nowadays come with thousands of pre-programmed sounds, covering such a wide spectrum, that it's hard (if not impossible) to create something that actually sounds different. Also, gone seems to be his uncanny ability to orchestrate music so delightfully and with such sweet, and memorable melodies. Instead, most of his music contains sounds which you've heard around a lot, or simple, overly repetitive, and non-fullfilling melodies. Piano in an Empty Room is an exception to the above, and is probably the gem from this CD.

Don't get me wrong. I still think this CD set is a worthwhile buy. Just don't expect anything too groundbreaking.

Simply Splendid, 19 Nov 2008
Heaven And Hell - Vangelis :- The words Perfect and Life Enhancing spring to mind. If you don't have this work in your collection,then you are a very poor person (musically). Sell your house and car,indeed your soul if need be, BUT GET THIS MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF WORK!

the first solo album on RCA that fanfared a great talent, 11 May 2008
The first solo album and a great epic championed to a rock audience by the greatly missed Alan "Fluff" Freeman. Good themes with lots of monk style cloister vocals, scary synth effects and three absolute highlights: the Jon Anderson sung "So long ago so clear" -one of the very best songs he has ever written (and I am counting all his Yes classics) and sung - beautiful. The other stand outs are a galloping synth theme which has a Ride of the Valkries type feel and the main theme itself. There is a great atmosphere throughout moving from themes of dread and joy echoing the work with his previous 60s group on the classic 666.

The only downside and the reason why I have not awarded five stars, is that there are only two track entry points on the CD, so the three tracks I have referred to above are not listed and can not be accessed separately. I am sure there were at least two-three track points on each side of the vinyl album, even if the tracks had no individual names. This CD urgently needs remastering, including new additional track entry points so that you can easily access favourite sections.

breathtaking, 20 Oct 2005
I am a fan of Vangelis and spend hours listening. Heaven and hell is uplifting, mixing classic and modern, violent and peaceful. I particularly like the drums and the discordant parts...I strongly recommend.

Even better 2nd time round, 09 Mar 2005
Being of a certain age I brought this album first time round and spent hours mentally drifting and mediatating to the music. I had lost contact with it and have found my way back to it via the track 12 oclock, I'm now about to buy it again.

A Trip through the Cosmos with Vangelis, 17 May 2003
I first encountered Heaven & Hell when viewing the TV Series Cosmos, written and presented by Dr Carl Sagan. The music haunted me for days until I discovered it had been written by Vangelis and was available as the album Heaven and Hell.

The haunting electronic melody takes the listener on a journey through time and space with changes in tempo which constantly keep you wondering what is coming next but at the same time, guiding you along the path, building to a crescendo with fury similar to 'Mars in The PLanets Suite. I venture to compare it to use this comparison but purists may well disagree.

An album for which to set-aside time and drift off onto a higher plain.

Got to have it., 05 Nov 2008
Blade Runner changed my life, I was born in 1979 so wasn't able to appreciate the film until it had been out a good 13 years (I actually saw the director's cut first). I bought the original soundtrack in 1999 and it has been an integral part of my life ever since, I have just discovered by accident that this album has been released, I'm so excited I might wee myself...

I apologise that this isn't actually a review but if you take my advice now to please buy this album then it was not a waste of your time to have read it. It is quite simply the most sublime soundtrack to a film ever made. A moment of clarity that only comes along once or twice a century...

Definitive soundtrack!, 01 Oct 2008
I always considered Vangelis' work for the "Blade Runner" soundtrack to be one of the most accomplished and definitive pieces he ever did for the universe of film. The music featured here is so evocative, its impact is so profound that it makes my mind travel through the most beautiful visions and landscapes. I would dare using Rutger Hauer's Batty final speech here: "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe! Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion... I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate... All those moments will be lost in time... like tears... in rain..." Except that those moments won't be lost in time for me, because they will forever be imprinted in my memories as some of the single most dazzling and wonderful that I have ever experienced when listening to music!

Wonderful!, 11 May 2008
The film is a stunning visual masterpiece. The Vangelis soundtrack is simply wonderful to listen to. It really does take you there. After watching the film again (Final cut edition). I found myself going back to parts of the film with the music that moved me. The mixture of piano and synths add power and sweetness to this film noir.
High lights for me was the opening theme as the spinner made it's a way across the city. The Love Theme is simply a beautiful piece of music which builds up nicely. Tear's in the rain, One Alone, and Fading away.


Best Vangelis release in recent times., 29 Mar 2008
I too am fed up with Blade Runner geeks harping on about the perfect bladerunner album.

What we have here is the best product vangelis has released in recent times. You get to hear some marvels in their entirety. Such as
'At Mr Chews', 'Deckard and Roys Duel' and 'Mechanical Toys'. The crown jewels of cd 2 is the sublime 'Desolation Path', which is perhaps evidence that some of Vangelis' best work still remains unreleased and is likely to remain so. As far as the Blade Runner score is concerned, everything worth putting in is here. The bits left out are effective as an underscore and probably wouldnt be worthwhile album material.

CD3 is at it should be different enough from the film and a new work. It is in the ilk of the albums 'The City' and 'Direct', which are the most underated works Vangelis has released. The track 'Spotkanie Z Matka' is subtly haunting and I still find myself humming the melody. The CD is just that, subtle and beautifuly put together without any over the top bombast.

I would say seasoned Vangelis fans would enjoy this product and is great value for money. Those that are more from the Blade Runner camp should also be thankfull and stop taking apart what is a great film and score. Film music is written to support and add to the film and picture and not every single not is suitable for an album. The product is just right and doesnt go into self gratification mode.
Next stop the unreleased music from 1492!

Forget the soundtrack, listen to the MUSIC, 28 Mar 2008
In many of the reviews I read here, I see that people seem more concerned with owning absolutely every note of music that existed in the movie (however irrelevant it may have been) than the music itself. Disk three, which is all new material, didn't even seem to interest some of the reviewers, who complain because disk 2 is not an exact repetition of what is present in the film. My review discusses the music, and the man who stands behind it, not the movie.

Those who are familiar with Vangelis know that most of his movie soundtracks have little in common with the music actually used in the movie. That is, Vangelis seems to concentrate more on releasing an album which can actually be listened to as music, and not as mere film cues. This part I always liked. If you want to get a faithful soundtrack of the movie, why waste money on your precious bootlegs? Just watch the movie!! Enjoy the music during the movie, 'cause it's hardly worth listening to without it.

Disk 1 is the same as the Blade Runner Soundtrack, released in 1994, no surprises there. Disk 2 is a collection of previously unreleased material written for the movie. This CD will not blow you away as far as memorable melodies, except for track 6, which is absolutely gorgeous. There are other tracks with nice melodies too; however, the main attraction of this CD should be the mood and atmosphere generated by the tracks. They remind one of the unique style Vangelis once had during the early eighties. I think this CD is the highlight of the set.

Disk three is perhaps the reason why I gave this CD set only three stars. I actually like it for the most part. But I don't find it memorable. Sadly, as much as I am a big fan of Vangelis, I think that those days, marked by his remarkable creativity and uniqueness, are behind for good. Let's face it, perhaps one of the reasons why Vangelis no longer releases studio albums is because he has nothing new, fresh or unique to release. You still occasionally bump into some of his recent work, which has that spark that only Vangelis can deliver. Such sparce examples can be found in themes like "Young Alexander" in the Alexander soundtrack. However, one thing you will find absent in this album, and it has been absent in most of his recent work, is that touch that made his music stand out from the norm, those wonderful surprises that always kept you wondering where his music was going next. Gone seems to be his desire to experiment with sound. And perhaps it's hard to blame him for this, especially since keyboards nowadays come with thousands of pre-programmed sounds, covering such a wide spectrum, that it's hard (if not impossible) to create something that actually sounds different. Also, gone seems to be his uncanny ability to orchestrate music so delightfully and with such sweet, and memorable melodies. Instead, most of his music contains sounds which you've heard around a lot, or simple, overly repetitive, and non-fullfilling melodies. Piano in an Empty Room is an exception to the above, and is probably the gem from this CD.

Don't get me wrong. I still think this CD set is a worthwhile buy. Just don't expect anything too groundbreaking.

classic 70's electronica, 21 Jun 2008
Produced in the 70's before he really hit the big time, this is a slice of what made Vangelis the master of synth rock. This is up there against Tomita and J.M. Jarre, and comes out very well. We all gasped that only one man was making such wonderful music, remember this was before PCs and samples took over the world. There are complex and melodic pieces alongside percussion. There is an other worldly feel to the pieces which explains why this music was used in Carl Sagans "Cosmos". The spoken title track is quite haunting and ethereal, the sound effects of the speaking clock and telephone dialling a little twee. A great introduction to synthesizers and the template for many a late night session staring at the clear night sky as a callow youth, dreaming about the Chariot of the Gods.

Sounding a bit dated but still interesting, 06 Jun 2007
Albedo 0.39 was released in 1976 and finds Vangelis using a mix of synthesizers, percussion and a variety of other instruments. Some of the more melodic tracks achieved quite wide exposure at the time, most notably "Alpha", which was used on the American television series "Cosmos".

The album sounds very much of its time, especially with regard to Vangelis's use of the Apollo astronauts' voices in "Mare Tranquilitatis" and the British Post Office 'speaking clock' at the end of "Pulstar". Some of the tracks have an experimental feel and don't really work, most notably "Main Sequence". However, the "Sword of Orion" has a poetic elegance and the two "Nucleogenesis" tracks, very much 1970s rock but with unusual use of the organ, still sound quite exciting.

The narrator of the atmospheric "Albedo 0.39" track is not credited and some people assume it must be Vangelis himself, but apparently it was the album's recording engineer.

In summary, an interesting album but not as good as Vangelis's "L'Apocalypse des Animeux" or "China".

As fresh today.., 05 Sep 2002
It is astonishing that this record was released in 1976. 'Freefall' is comfortably 20 years ahead of its time and is reminiscent of Boards of Canada's quieter moments. Ignore the unhinged and unrepresentative 'Main Sequence'; the scary 'Intestinal Bat' and the title track are far superior.

SPACE ELECTRONICS AT THEIR FINEST, 25 Nov 2000
Greek keyboard wizard Vangelis was one of the pioneers of popular electronic music, before he became famous for film soundtracks such as 'Blade Runner' and 'Chariots of Fire', for which he won an Oscar. ALBEDO 0.39 was released at the height of his commercial success during the late 1970s, and remains one of his most focussed and appealing albums. Not only does it avoid the classical pretensions of his earlier works, but also the tiresome experimental dabblings of subsequent efforts. ALBEDO represents the composer at his most 'electronic'. The album can best be describes as 'Space Rock', with each of the eight tracks having an astronomical theme and a cosmic atmosphere. There is little in the way of the orchestral simulations that have typified most of Vangelis' work, and we are left with a series of very precise pieces full of lively fuzzy basses, jangly fills and synthetic solos. This does not undermine the composer's celebrated sense of melody, however, as ALBEDO is loaded with catchy tunes, and every piece shows lots of musical interest. The standout track must be 'Main Sequence', a blistering assault of stunning percussion work and dazzling keyboard virtuosity. This is electronic rock/fusion at its wildest, punctuated by sudden bursts of melody amidst a crashing cacophony. 'Sword of Orion' is one of Vangelis' most beautiful and soaring pieces of electronic music. 'Pulstar' is instantly recognisable owing to its frequent use on television programmes, while the album concludes with the title track. This features the man himself, reciting a series of cosmic facts about the earth as it travels through space. Not that musical, but a fascinating science lesson for those who are interested! For Vangelis fans, ALBEDO 0.39 is essential listening. Fans of electronic music with an astronomical theme should also check out Brian Eno's 'Apollo' Soundtrack.

Simply Splendid, 19 Nov 2008
Heaven And Hell - Vangelis :- The words Perfect and Life Enhancing spring to mind. If you don't have this work in your collection,then you are a very poor person (musically). Sell your house and car,indeed your soul if need be, BUT GET THIS MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF WORK!

the first solo album on RCA that fanfared a great talent, 11 May 2008
The first solo album and a great epic championed to a rock audience by the greatly missed Alan "Fluff" Freeman. Good themes with lots of monk style cloister vocals, scary synth effects and three absolute highlights: the Jon Anderson sung "So long ago so clear" -one of the very best songs he has ever written (and I am counting all his Yes classics) and sung - beautiful. The other stand outs are a galloping synth theme which has a Ride of the Valkries type feel and the main theme itself. There is a great atmosphere throughout moving from themes of dread and joy echoing the work with his previous 60s group on the classic 666.

The only downside and the reason why I have not awarded five stars, is that there are only two track entry points on the CD, so the three tracks I have referred to above are not listed and can not be accessed separately. I am sure there were at least two-three track points on each side of the vinyl album, even if the tracks had no individual names. This CD urgently needs remastering, including new additional track entry points so that you can easily access favourite sections.

breathtaking, 20 Oct 2005
I am a fan of Vangelis and spend hours listening. Heaven and hell is uplifting, mixing classic and modern, violent and peaceful. I particularly like the drums and the discordant parts...I strongly recommend.

Even better 2nd time round, 09 Mar 2005
Being of a certain age I brought this album first time round and spent hours mentally drifting and mediatating to the music. I had lost contact with it and have found my way back to it via the track 12 oclock, I'm now about to buy it again.

A Trip through the Cosmos with Vangelis, 17 May 2003
I first encountered Heaven & Hell when viewing the TV Series Cosmos, written and presented by Dr Carl Sagan. The music haunted me for days until I discovered it had been written by Vangelis and was available as the album Heaven and Hell.

The haunting electronic melody takes the listener on a journey through time and space with changes in tempo which constantly keep you wondering what is coming next but at the same time, guiding you along the path, building to a crescendo with fury similar to 'Mars in The PLanets Suite. I venture to compare it to use this comparison but purists may well disagree.

An album for which to set-aside time and drift off onto a higher plain.

Got to have it., 05 Nov 2008
Blade Runner changed my life, I was born in 1979 so wasn't able to appreciate the film until it had been out a good 13 years (I actually saw the director's cut first). I bought the original soundtrack in 1999 and it has been an integral part of my life ever since, I have just discovered by accident that this album has been released, I'm so excited I might wee myself...

I apologise that this isn't actually a review but if you take my advice now to please buy this album then it was not a waste of your time to have read it. It is quite simply the most sublime soundtrack to a film ever made. A moment of clarity that only comes along once or twice a century...

Definitive soundtrack!, 01 Oct 2008
I always considered Vangelis' work for the "Blade Runner" soundtrack to be one of the most accomplished and definitive pieces he ever did for the universe of film. The music featured here is so evocative, its impact is so profound that it makes my mind travel through the most beautiful visions and landscapes. I would dare using Rutger Hauer's Batty final speech here: "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe! Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion... I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate... All those moments will be lost in time... like tears... in rain..." Except that those moments won't be lost in time for me, because they will forever be imprinted in my memories as some of the single most dazzling and wonderful that I have ever experienced when listening to music!

Wonderful!, 11 May 2008
The film is a stunning visual masterpiece. The Vangelis soundtrack is simply wonderful to listen to. It really does take you there. After watching the film again (Final cut edition). I found myself going back to parts of the film with the music that moved me. The mixture of piano and synths add power and sweetness to this film noir.
High lights for me was the opening theme as the spinner made it's a way across the city. The Love Theme is simply a beautiful piece of music which builds up nicely. Tear's in the rain, One Alone, and Fading away.


Best Vangelis release in recent times., 29 Mar 2008
I too am fed up with Blade Runner geeks harping on about the perfect bladerunner album.

What we have here is the best product vangelis has released in recent times. You get to hear some marvels in their entirety. Such as
'At Mr Chews', 'Deckard and Roys Duel' and 'Mechanical Toys'. The crown jewels of cd 2 is the sublime 'Desolation Path', which is perhaps evidence that some of Vangelis' best work still remains unreleased and is likely to remain so. As far as the Blade Runner score is concerned, everything worth putting in is here. The bits left out are effective as an underscore and probably wouldnt be worthwhile album material.

CD3 is at it should be different enough from the film and a new work. It is in the ilk of the albums 'The City' and 'Direct', which are the most underated works Vangelis has released. The track 'Spotkanie Z Matka' is subtly haunting and I still find myself humming the melody. The CD is just that, subtle and beautifuly put together without any over the top bombast.

I would say seasoned Vangelis fans would enjoy this product and is great value for money. Those that are more from the Blade Runner camp should also be thankfull and stop taking apart what is a great film and score. Film music is written to support and add to the film and picture and not every single not is suitable for an album. The product is just right and doesnt go into self gratification mode.
Next stop the unreleased music from 1492!

Forget the soundtrack, listen to the MUSIC, 28 Mar 2008
In many of the reviews I read here, I see that people seem more concerned with owning absolutely every note of music that existed in the movie (however irrelevant it may have been) than the music itself. Disk three, which is all new material, didn't even seem to interest some of the reviewers, who complain because disk 2 is not an exact repetition of what is present in the film. My review discusses the music, and the man who stands behind it, not the movie.

Those who are familiar with Vangelis know that most of his movie soundtracks have little in common with the music actually used in the movie. That is, Vangelis seems to concentrate more on releasing an album which can actually be listened to as music, and not as mere film cues. This part I always liked. If you want to get a faithful soundtrack of the movie, why waste money on your precious bootlegs? Just watch the movie!! Enjoy the music during the movie, 'cause it's hardly worth listening to without it.

Disk 1 is the same as the Blade Runner Soundtrack, released in 1994, no surprises there. Disk 2 is a collection of previously unreleased material written for the movie. This CD will not blow you away as far as memorable melodies, except for track 6, which is absolutely gorgeous. There are other tracks with nice melodies too; however, the main attraction of this CD should be the mood and atmosphere generated by the tracks. They remind one of the unique style Vangelis once had during the early eighties. I think this CD is the highlight of the set.

Disk three is perhaps the reason why I gave this CD set only three stars. I actually like it for the most part. But I don't find it memorable. Sadly, as much as I am a big fan of Vangelis, I think that those days, marked by his remarkable creativity and uniqueness, are behind for good. Let's face it, perhaps one of the reasons why Vangelis no longer releases studio albums is because he has nothing new, fresh or unique to release. You still occasionally bump into some of his recent work, which has that spark that only Vangelis can deliver. Such sparce examples can be found in themes like "Young Alexander" in the Alexander soundtrack. However, one thing you will find absent in this album, and it has been absent in most of his recent work, is that touch that made his music stand out from the norm, those wonderful surprises that always kept you wondering where his music was going next. Gone seems to be his desire to experiment with sound. And perhaps it's hard to blame him for this, especially since keyboards nowadays come with thousands of pre-programmed sounds, covering such a wide spectrum, that it's hard (if not impossible) to create something that actually sounds different. Also, gone seems to be his uncanny ability to orchestrate music so delightfully and with such sweet, and memorable melodies. Instead, most of his music contains sounds which you've heard around a lot, or simple, overly repetitive, and non-fullfilling melodies. Piano in an Empty Room is an exception to the above, and is probably the gem from this CD.

Don't get me wrong. I still think this CD set is a worthwhile buy. Just don't expect anything too groundbreaking.

classic 70's electronica, 21 Jun 2008
Produced in the 70's before he really hit the big time, this is a slice of what made Vangelis the master of synth rock. This is up there against Tomita and J.M. Jarre, and comes out very well. We all gasped that only one man was making such wonderful music, remember this was before PCs and samples took over the world. There are complex and melodic pieces alongside percussion. There is an other worldly feel to the pieces which explains why this music was used in Carl Sagans "Cosmos". The spoken title track is quite haunting and ethereal, the sound effects of the speaking clock and telephone dialling a little twee. A great introduction to synthesizers and the template for many a late night session staring at the clear night sky as a callow youth, dreaming about the Chariot of the Gods.

Sounding a bit dated but still interesting, 06 Jun 2007
Albedo 0.39 was released in 1976 and finds Vangelis using a mix of synthesizers, percussion and a variety of other instruments. Some of the more melodic tracks achieved quite wide exposure at the time, most notably "Alpha", which was used on the American television series "Cosmos".

The album sounds very much of its time, especially with regard to Vangelis's use of the Apollo astronauts' voices in "Mare Tranquilitatis" and the British Post Office 'speaking clock' at the end of "Pulstar". Some of the tracks have an experimental feel and don't really work, most notably "Main Sequence". However, the "Sword of Orion" has a poetic elegance and the two "Nucleogenesis" tracks, very much 1970s rock but with unusual use of the organ, still sound quite exciting.

The narrator of the atmospheric "Albedo 0.39" track is not credited and some people assume it must be Vangelis himself, but apparently it was the album's recording engineer.

In summary, an interesting album but not as good as Vangelis's "L'Apocalypse des Animeux" or "China".

As fresh today.., 05 Sep 2002
It is astonishing that this record was released in 1976. 'Freefall' is comfortably 20 years ahead of its time and is reminiscent of Boards of Canada's quieter moments. Ignore the unhinged and unrepresentative 'Main Sequence'; the scary 'Intestinal Bat' and the title track are far superior.

SPACE ELECTRONICS AT THEIR FINEST, 25 Nov 2000
Greek keyboard wizard Vangelis was one of the pioneers of popular electronic music, before he became famous for film soundtracks such as 'Blade Runner' and 'Chariots of Fire', for which he won an Oscar. ALBEDO 0.39 was released at the height of his commercial success during the late 1970s, and remains one of his most focussed and appealing albums. Not only does it avoid the classical pretensions of his earlier works, but also the tiresome experimental dabblings of subsequent efforts. ALBEDO represents the composer at his most 'electronic'. The album can best be describes as 'Space Rock', with each of the eight tracks having an astronomical theme and a cosmic atmosphere. There is little in the way of the orchestral simulations that have typified most of Vangelis' work, and we are left with a series of very precise pieces full of lively fuzzy basses, jangly fills and synthetic solos. This does not undermine the composer's celebrated sense of melody, however, as ALBEDO is loaded with catchy tunes, and every piece shows lots of musical interest. The standout track must be 'Main Sequence', a blistering assault of stunning percussion work and dazzling keyboard virtuosity. This is electronic rock/fusion at its wildest, punctuated by sudden bursts of melody amidst a crashing cacophony. 'Sword of Orion' is one of Vangelis' most beautiful and soaring pieces of electronic music. 'Pulstar' is instantly recognisable owing to its frequent use on television programmes, while the album concludes with the title track. This features the man himself, reciting a series of cosmic facts about the earth as it travels through space. Not that musical, but a fascinating science lesson for those who are interested! For Vangelis fans, ALBEDO 0.39 is essential listening. Fans of electronic music with an astronomical theme should also check out Brian Eno's 'Apollo' Soundtrack.

an exceptional collaboration, 15 Feb 2008
Since this album first came out well over 25 years ago - I was in Hong Kong at the time and remember buying the cassette in a little record shop in Wanchai - it has always been right at the top of my all-time favourites list, which for me is saying something considering my enjoyment of a number of different genres.

The first track, I'll Find My Way Home, is full of positivity about the search for meaning and the benevolence of life, and slides effortlessly into the epiphanic and extremely dynamic State of Independence. These two tracks have been included in a number of Vangelis compilations and as a result have tended to overshadow the next two equally hypnotic songs, Beside and The Mayflower, the last of which features the mimicry talents of one David Coker, as does the title track, the extraordinarily creative and original Friends of Mr Cairo, with its changing melodies and sublime lyrics that weave between mystical experience and the appreciation of old films. Here's a sample from towards the end of the 12 minute track:

Did you see in the morning light?
I really talked, yes I did, to that early dawning light,
And I was privileged to be as I am to this day,
To be with you, to be with you, to be with you, to be with you...

After that comes what for me is the low point of the album, the rocky and rather out of place Back to School. Perhaps the lads felt a ballast was needed after what had come before. But the last song, Outside of This (Inside of That) brings back the sublime and hopeful mystical feeling that characterises the bulk of the album.

Of the four Jon and Vangelis albums this is probably the most impressive, though others might disagree - certainly it is the most consistently excellent and shows both the highly original Jon Anderson and the magnificently gifted Vangelis Papathanassiou at their brilliant best.


A Life-Long Friend of Mr Cairo, 14 May 2007
If I was still young enough to worry about things such as a list of my top 10 favourite Albums, this would be on it.

Anderson's voice is perfect for Vangelis music - neither seem as good without the other - both having a quality that allows you to drift off while at the same time being led in a certain direction. I played this to death when it came out 20 years ago and now the CD stays in the car, played over and over on long journeys.

The only bad thing is the cover artwork - never was an album so let down by the image portrayed.


Sublime oddness, 04 Nov 2006
This has long been one of my favourite albums - it's odd that it's so unknown, but then I guess the lead singer of hippy group Yes and a beardy Greek keyboard wizard don't make the most fashionable team-up. The album sounds like nothing else - ambient, futuristic, new age, but strangely old-fashioned. If you are more interested in what you are listening to than the fashion implications, then I thoroughly recommend you check it out.

Accept no imations, 24 Jul 2004
The original and by far the superior version of State of Indepedence, if anybody says didnt Donna Summer do that, you have my permission to slap them sensless.

Cheers Ta
Jap

The classic Jon and Vangelis album., 07 Oct 2000
At the time when this LP was first released, Jon and Vangelis were regarded as desperately unfashionable by the knowing music press. However, despite their dislike of the duo, many music journalists (working on, for example, Smash Hits) reluctantly conceded that here was an album of instantaneous classics which also had the likelihood of real staying power. And so it has proved. Two decades on, and The Friends of Mr Cairo enjoys potent longevity, continuing to mesmerise with its imaginative song writing, its seductive and luscious instrumentation, care of Vangelis, and the extraordinary vocal athleticism of Jon Anderson. All the songs are lyrical and evocative. Some, particularly the title track, aspire to moments of real audial beauty and purity. Few albums are consistently moving and transporting. This one, in its affirmatory celebration of love, memory, and identity, is a glorious exception.

Simply Splendid, 19 Nov 2008
Heaven And Hell - Vangelis :- The words Perfect and Life Enhancing spring to mind. If you don't have this work in your collection,then you are a very poor person (musically). Sell your house and car,indeed your soul if need be, BUT GET THIS MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF WORK!

the first solo album on RCA that fanfared a great talent, 11 May 2008
The first solo album and a great epic championed to a rock audience by the greatly missed Alan "Fluff" Freeman. Good themes with lots of monk style cloister vocals, scary synth effects and three absolute highlights: the Jon Anderson sung "So long ago so clear" -one of the very best songs he has ever written (and I am counting all his Yes classics) and sung - beautiful. The other stand outs are a galloping synth theme which has a Ride of the Valkries type feel and the main theme itself. There is a great atmosphere throughout moving from themes of dread and joy echoing the work with his previous 60s group on the classic 666.

The only downside and the reason why I have not awarded five stars, is that there are only two track entry points on the CD, so the three tracks I have referred to above are not listed and can not be accessed separately. I am sure there were at least two-three track points on each side of the vinyl album, even if the tracks had no individual names. This CD urgently needs remastering, including new additional track entry points so that you can easily access favourite sections.

breathtaking, 20 Oct 2005
I am a fan of Vangelis and spend hours listening. Heaven and hell is uplifting, mixing classic and modern, violent and peaceful. I particularly like the drums and the discordant parts...I strongly recommend.

Even better 2nd time round, 09 Mar 2005
Being of a certain age I brought this album first time round and spent hours mentally drifting and mediatating to the music. I had lost contact with it and have found my way back to it via the track 12 oclock, I'm now about to buy it again.

A Trip through the Cosmos with Vangelis, 17 May 2003
I first encountered Heaven & Hell when viewing the TV Series Cosmos, written and presented by Dr Carl Sagan. The music haunted me for days until I discovered it had been written by Vangelis and was available as the album Heaven and Hell.

The haunting electronic melody takes the listener on a journey through time and space with changes in tempo which constantly keep you wondering what is coming next but at the same time, guiding you along the path, building to a crescendo with fury similar to 'Mars in The PLanets Suite. I venture to compare it to use this comparison but purists may well disagree.

An album for which to set-aside time and drift off onto a higher plain.

Got to have it., 05 Nov 2008
Blade Runner changed my life, I was born in 1979 so wasn't able to appreciate the film until it had been out a good 13 years (I actually saw the director's cut first). I bought the original soundtrack in 1999 and it has been an integral part of my life ever since, I have just discovered by accident that this album has been released, I'm so excited I might wee myself...

I apologise that this isn't actually a review but if you take my advice now to please buy this album then it was not a waste of your time to have read it. It is quite simply the most sublime soundtrack to a film ever made. A moment of clarity that only comes along once or twice a century...

Definitive soundtrack!, 01 Oct 2008
I always considered Vangelis' work for the "Blade Runner" soundtrack to be one of the most accomplished and definitive pieces he ever did for the universe of film. The music featured here is so evocative, its impact is so profound that it makes my mind travel through the most beautiful visions and landscapes. I would dare using Rutger Hauer's Batty final speech here: "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe! Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion... I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate... All those moments will be lost in time... like tears... in rain..." Except that those moments won't be lost in time for me, because they will forever be imprinted in my memories as some of the single most dazzling and wonderful that I have ever experienced when listening to music!

Wonderful!, 11 May 2008
The film is a stunning visual masterpiece. The Vangelis soundtrack is simply wonderful to listen to. It really does take you there. After watching the film again (Final cut edition). I found myself going back to parts of the film with the music that moved me. The mixture of piano and synths add power and sweetness to this film noir.
High lights for me was the opening theme as the spinner made it's a way across the city. The Love Theme is simply a beautiful piece of music which builds up nicely. Tear's in the rain, One Alone, and Fading away.


Best Vangelis release in recent times., 29 Mar 2008
I too am fed up with Blade Runner geeks harping on about the perfect bladerunner album.

What we have here is the best product vangelis has released in recent times. You get to hear some marvels in their entirety. Such as
'At Mr Chews', 'Deckard and Roys Duel' and 'Mechanical Toys'. The crown jewels of cd 2 is the sublime 'Desolation Path', which is perhaps evidence that some of Vangelis' best work still remains unreleased and is likely to remain so. As far as the Blade Runner score is concerned, everything worth putting in is here. The bits left out are effective as an underscore and probably wouldnt be worthwhile album material.

CD3 is at it should be different enough from the film and a new work. It is in the ilk of the albums 'The City' and 'Direct', which are the most underated works Vangelis has released. The track 'Spotkanie Z Matka' is subtly haunting and I still find myself humming the melody. The CD is just that, subtle and beautifuly put together without any over the top bombast.

I would say seasoned Vangelis fans would enjoy this product and is great value for money. Those that are more from the Blade Runner camp should also be thankfull and stop taking apart what is a great film and score. Film music is written to support and add to the film and picture and not every single not is suitable for an album. The product is just right and doesnt go into self gratification mode.
Next stop the unreleased music from 1492!

Forget the soundtrack, listen to the MUSIC, 28 Mar 2008
In many of the reviews I read here, I see that people seem more concerned with owning absolutely every note of music that existed in the movie (however irrelevant it may have been) than the music itself. Disk three, which is all new material, didn't even seem to interest some of the reviewers, who complain because disk 2 is not an exact repetition of what is present in the film. My review discusses the music, and the man who stands behind it, not the movie.

Those who are familiar with Vangelis know that most of his movie soundtracks have little in common with the music actually used in the movie. That is, Vangelis seems to concentrate more on releasing an album which can actually be listened to as music, and not as mere film cues. This part I always liked. If you want to get a faithful soundtrack of the movie, why waste money on your precious bootlegs? Just watch the movie!! Enjoy the music during the movie, 'cause it's hardly worth listening to without it.

Disk 1 is the same as the Blade Runner Soundtrack, released in 1994, no surprises there. Disk 2 is a collection of previously unreleased material written for the movie. This CD will not blow you away as far as memorable melodies, except for track 6, which is absolutely gorgeous. There are other tracks with nice melodies too; however, the main attraction of this CD should be the mood and atmosphere generated by the tracks. They remind one of the unique style Vangelis once had during the early eighties. I think this CD is the highlight of the set.

Disk three is perhaps the reason why I gave this CD set only three stars. I actually like it for the most part. But I don't find it memorable. Sadly, as much as I am a big fan of Vangelis, I think that those days, marked by his remarkable creativity and uniqueness, are behind for good. Let's face it, perhaps one of the reasons why Vangelis no longer releases studio albums is because he has nothing new, fresh or unique to release. You still occasionally bump into some of his recent work, which has that spark that only Vangelis can deliver. Such sparce examples can be found in themes like "Young Alexander" in the Alexander soundtrack. However, one thing you will find absent in this album, and it has been absent in most of his recent work, is that touch that made his music stand out from the norm, those wonderful surprises that always kept you wondering where his music was going next. Gone seems to be his desire to experiment with sound. And perhaps it's hard to blame him for this, especially since keyboards nowadays come with thousands of pre-programmed sounds, covering such a wide spectrum, that it's hard (if not impossible) to create something that actually sounds different. Also, gone seems to be his uncanny ability to orchestrate music so delightfully and with such sweet, and memorable melodies. Instead, most of his music contains sounds which you've heard around a lot, or simple, overly repetitive, and non-fullfilling melodies. Piano in an Empty Room is an exception to the above, and is probably the gem from this CD.

Don't get me wrong. I still think this CD set is a worthwhile buy. Just don't expect anything too groundbreaking.

classic 70's electronica, 21 Jun 2008
Produced in the 70's before he really hit the big time, this is a slice of what made Vangelis the master of synth rock. This is up there against Tomita and J.M. Jarre, and comes out very well. We all gasped that only one man was making such wonderful music, remember this was before PCs and samples took over the world. There are complex and melodic pieces alongside percussion. There is an other worldly feel to the pieces which explains why this music was used in Carl Sagans "Cosmos". The spoken title track is quite haunting and ethereal, the sound effects of the speaking clock and telephone dialling a little twee. A great introduction to synthesizers and the template for many a late night session staring at the clear night sky as a callow youth, dreaming about the Chariot of the Gods.

Sounding a bit dated but still interesting, 06 Jun 2007
Albedo 0.39 was released in 1976 and finds Vangelis using a mix of synthesizers, percussion and a variety of other instruments. Some of the more melodic tracks achieved quite wide exposure at the time, most notably "Alpha", which was used on the American television series "Cosmos".

The album sounds very much of its time, especially with regard to Vangelis's use of the Apollo astronauts' voices in "Mare Tranquilitatis" and the British Post Office 'speaking clock' at the end of "Pulstar". Some of the tracks have an experimental feel and don't really work, most notably "Main Sequence". However, the "Sword of Orion" has a poetic elegance and the two "Nucleogenesis" tracks, very much 1970s rock but with unusual use of the organ, still sound quite exciting.

The narrator of the atmospheric "Albedo 0.39" track is not credited and some people assume it must be Vangelis himself, but apparently it was the album's recording engineer.

In summary, an interesting album but not as good as Vangelis's "L'Apocalypse des Animeux" or "China".

As fresh today.., 05 Sep 2002
It is astonishing that this record was released in 1976. 'Freefall' is comfortably 20 years ahead of its time and is reminiscent of Boards of Canada's quieter moments. Ignore the unhinged and unrepresentative 'Main Sequence'; the scary 'Intestinal Bat' and the title track are far superior.

SPACE ELECTRONICS AT THEIR FINEST, 25 Nov 2000
Greek keyboard wizard Vangelis was one of the pioneers of popular electronic music, before he became famous for film soundtracks such as 'Blade Runner' and 'Chariots of Fire', for which he won an Oscar. ALBEDO 0.39 was released at the height of his commercial success during the late 1970s, and remains one of his most focussed and appealing albums. Not only does it avoid the classical pretensions of his earlier works, but also the tiresome experimental dabblings of subsequent efforts. ALBEDO represents the composer at his most 'electronic'. The album can best be describes as 'Space Rock', with each of the eight tracks having an astronomical theme and a cosmic atmosphere. There is little in the way of the orchestral simulations that have typified most of Vangelis' work, and we are left with a series of very precise pieces full of lively fuzzy basses, jangly fills and synthetic solos. This does not undermine the composer's celebrated sense of melody, however, as ALBEDO is loaded with catchy tunes, and every piece shows lots of musical interest. The standout track must be 'Main Sequence', a blistering assault of stunning percussion work and dazzling keyboard virtuosity. This is electronic rock/fusion at its wildest, punctuated by sudden bursts of melody amidst a crashing cacophony. 'Sword of Orion' is one of Vangelis' most beautiful and soaring pieces of electronic music. 'Pulstar' is instantly recognisable owing to its frequent use on television programmes, while the album concludes with the title track. This features the man himself, reciting a series of cosmic facts about the earth as it travels through space. Not that musical, but a fascinating science lesson for those who are interested! For Vangelis fans, ALBEDO 0.39 is essential listening. Fans of electronic music with an astronomical theme should also check out Brian Eno's 'Apollo' Soundtrack.

an exceptional collaboration, 15 Feb 2008
Since this album first came out well over 25 years ago - I was in Hong Kong at the time and remember buying the cassette in a little record shop in Wanchai - it has always been right at the top of my all-time favourites list, which for me is saying something considering my enjoyment of a number of different genres.

The first track, I'll Find My Way Home, is full of positivity about the search for meaning and the benevolence of life, and slides effortlessly into the epiphanic and extremely dynamic State of Independence. These two tracks have been included in a number of Vangelis compilations and as a result have tended to overshadow the next two equally hypnotic songs, Beside and The Mayflower, the last of which features the mimicry talents of one David Coker, as does the title track, the extraordinarily creative and original Friends of Mr Cairo, with its changing melodies and sublime lyrics that weave between mystical experience and the appreciation of old films. Here's a sample from towards the end of the 12 minute track:

Did you see in the morning light?
I really talked, yes I did, to that early dawning light,
And I was privileged to be as I am to this day,
To be with you, to be with you, to be with you, to be with you...

After that comes what for me is the low point of the album, the rocky and rather out of place Back to School. Perhaps the lads felt a ballast was needed after what had come before. But the last song, Outside of This (Inside of That) brings back the sublime and hopeful mystical feeling that characterises the bulk of the album.

Of the four Jon and Vangelis albums this is probably the most impressive, though others might disagree - certainly it is the most consistently excellent and shows both the highly original Jon Anderson and the magnificently gifted Vangelis Papathanassiou at their brilliant best.


A Life-Long Friend of Mr Cairo, 14 May 2007
If I was still young enough to worry about things such as a list of my top 10 favourite Albums, this would be on it.

Anderson's voice is perfect for Vangelis music - neither seem as good without the other - both having a quality that allows you to drift off while at the same time being led in a certain direction. I played this to death when it came out 20 years ago and now the CD stays in the car, played over and over on long journeys.

The only bad thing is the cover artwork - never was an album so let down by the image portrayed.


Sublime oddness, 04 Nov 2006
This has long been one of my favourite albums - it's odd that it's so unknown, but then I guess the lead singer of hippy group Yes and a beardy Greek keyboard wizard don't make the most fashionable team-up. The album sounds like nothing else - ambient, futuristic, new age, but strangely old-fashioned. If you are more interested in what you are listening to than the fashion implications, then I thoroughly recommend you check it out.

Accept no imations, 24 Jul 2004
The original and by far the superior version of State of Indepedence, if anybody says didnt Donna Summer do that, you have my permission to slap them sensless.

Cheers Ta
Jap

The classic Jon and Vangelis album., 07 Oct 2000
At the time when this LP was first released, Jon and Vangelis were regarded as desperately unfashionable by the knowing music press. However, despite their dislike of the duo, many music journalists (working on, for example, Smash Hits) reluctantly conceded that here was an album of instantaneous classics which also had the likelihood of real staying power. And so it has proved. Two decades on, and The Friends of Mr Cairo enjoys potent longevity, continuing to mesmerise with its imaginative song writing, its seductive and luscious instrumentation, care of Vangelis, and the extraordinary vocal athleticism of Jon Anderson. All the songs are lyrical and evocative. Some, particularly the title track, aspire to moments of real audial beauty and purity. Few albums are consistently moving and transporting. This one, in its affirmatory celebration of love, memory, and identity, is a glorious exception.

Van-tastic !, 21 May 2008
Many people wondered what the outcome would be when Polish pianist Vangelis (pronounced Van-jealous) teamed up with Jon Anderson of The Yes.

And the results were much better than expected. Vangelis improvised on the keyboards while Anderson sang random collections of words and the result was quite entertaining.

Their real scoop of the project was managing to tape the late Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney for the song "Friends of Mister Cairo" in what turned out to be the last recorded performance of both actors.

Sadly the partnership ended when Vangelis took a wrong turn on a drive to Andersons house ended up at the home of noted actor and film producer, Lord David Attenborough. From thence Attenborough replaced Anderson on vocals, a pairing which resulted in the number one hit "Chariots of Fire".

This collection features all of the tracks mentioned except for "Friends of Mr Cairo" and "Chariots of Fire".

Timeless classics, 18 Jul 2002
Near the end of the 1970's, Jon Anderson, of "Yes" fame, teamed up with Greek virtuoso composer/performer Vangelis for a series of albums.

This 1984 compilation album contains a great selection of some of their best songs taken from several of them.

As an introduction to the work of Jon & Vangelis, this album is excellent. Highly recommended.

Simply Splendid, 19 Nov 2008
Heaven And Hell - Vangelis :- The words Perfect and Life Enhancing spring to mind. If you don't have this work in your collection,then you are a very poor person (musically). Sell your house and car,indeed your soul if need be, BUT GET THIS MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF WORK!

the first solo album on RCA that fanfared a great talent, 11 May 2008
The first solo album and a great epic championed to a rock audience by the greatly missed Alan "Fluff" Freeman. Good themes with lots of monk style cloister vocals, scary synth effects and three absolute highlights: the Jon Anderson sung "So long ago so clear" -one of the very best songs he has ever written (and I am counting all his Yes classics) and sung - beautiful. The other stand outs are a galloping synth theme which has a Ride of the Valkries type feel and the main theme itself. There is a great atmosphere throughout moving from themes of dread and joy echoing the work with his previous 60s group on the classic 666.

The only downside and the reason why I have not awarded five stars, is that there are only two track entry points on the CD, so the three tracks I have referred to above are not listed and can not be accessed separately. I am sure there were at least two-three track points on each side of the vinyl album, even if the tracks had no individual names. This CD urgently needs remastering, including new additional track entry points so that you can easily access favourite sections.

breathtaking, 20 Oct 2005
I am a fan of Vangelis and spend hours listening. Heaven and hell is uplifting, mixing classic and modern, violent and peaceful. I particularly like the drums and the discordant parts...I strongly recommend.

Even better 2nd time round, 09 Mar 2005
Being of a certain age I brought this album first time round and spent hours mentally drifting and mediatating to the music. I had lost contact with it and have found my way back to it via the track 12 oclock, I'm now about to buy it again.

A Trip through the Cosmos with Vangelis, 17 May 2003
I first encountered Heaven & Hell when viewing the TV Series Cosmos, written and presented by Dr Carl Sagan. The music haunted me for days until I discovered it had been written by Vangelis and was available as the album Heaven and Hell.

The haunting electronic melody takes the listener on a journey through time and space with changes in tempo which constantly keep you wondering what is coming next but at the same time, guiding you along the path, building to a crescendo with fury similar to 'Mars in The PLanets Suite. I venture to compare it to use this comparison but purists may well disagree.

An album for which to set-aside time and drift off onto a higher plain.

Got to have it., 05 Nov 2008
Blade Runner changed my life, I was born in 1979 so wasn't able to appreciate the film until it had been out a good 13 years (I actually saw the director's cut first). I bought the original soundtrack in 1999 and it has been an integral part of my life ever since, I have just discovered by accident that this album has been released, I'm so excited I might wee myself...

I apologise that this isn't actually a review but if you take my advice now to please buy this album then it was not a waste of your time to have read it. It is quite simply the most sublime soundtrack to a film ever made. A moment of clarity that only comes along once or twice a century...

Definitive soundtrack!, 01 Oct 2008
I always considered Vangelis' work for the "Blade Runner" soundtrack to be one of the most accomplished and definitive pieces he ever did for the universe of film. The music featured here is so evocative, its impact is so profound that it makes my mind travel through the most beautiful visions and landscapes. I would dare using Rutger Hauer's Batty final speech here: "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe! Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion... I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate... All those moments will be lost in time... like tears... in rain..." Except that those moments won't be lost in time for me, because they will forever be imprinted in my memories as some of the single most dazzling and wonderful that I have ever experienced when listening to music!

Wonderful!, 11 May 2008
The film is a stunning visual masterpiece. The Vangelis soundtrack is simply wonderful to listen to. It really does take you there. After watching the film again (Final cut edition). I found myself going back to parts of the film with the music that moved me. The mixture of piano and synths add power and sweetness to this film noir.
High lights for me was the opening theme as the spinner made it's a way across the city. The Love Theme is simply a beautiful piece of music which builds up nicely. Tear's in the rain, One Alone, and Fading away.


Best Vangelis release in recent times., 29 Mar 2008
I too am fed up with Blade Runner geeks harping on about the perfect bladerunner album.

What we have here is the best product vangelis has released in recent times. You get to hear some marvels in their entirety. Such as
'At Mr Chews', 'Deckard and Roys Duel' and 'Mechanical Toys'. The crown jewels of cd 2 is the sublime 'Desolation Path', which is perhaps evidence that some of Vangelis' best work still remains unreleased and is likely to remain so. As far as the Blade Runner score is concerned, everything worth putting in is here. The bits left out are effective as an underscore and probably wouldnt be worthwhile album material.

CD3 is at it should be different enough from the film and a new work. It is in the ilk of the albums 'The City' and 'Direct', which are the most underated works Vangelis has released. The track 'Spotkanie Z Matka' is subtly haunting and I still find myself humming the melody. The CD is just that, subtle and beautifuly put together without any over the top bombast.

I would say seasoned Vangelis fans would enjoy this product and is great value for money. Those that are more from the Blade Runner camp should also be thankfull and stop taking apart what is a great film and score. Film music is written to support and add to the film and picture and not every single not is suitable for an album. The product is just right and doesnt go into self gratification mode.
Next stop the unreleased music from 1492!

Forget the soundtrack, listen to the MUSIC, 28 Mar 2008
In many of the reviews I read here, I see that people seem more concerned with owning absolutely every note of music that existed in the movie (however irrelevant it may have been) than the music itself. Disk three, which is all new material, didn't even seem to interest some of the reviewers, who complain because disk 2 is not an exact repetition of what is present in the film. My review discusses the music, and the man who stands behind it, not the movie.

Those who are familiar with Vangelis know that most of his movie soundtracks have little in common with the music actually used in the movie. That is, Vangelis seems to concentrate more on releasing an album which can actually be listened to as music, and not as mere film cues. This part I always liked. If you want to get a faithful soundtrack of the movie, why waste money on your precious bootlegs? Just watch the movie!! Enjoy the music during the movie, 'cause it's hardly worth listening to without it.

Disk 1 is the same as the Blade Runner Soundtrack, released in 1994, no surprises there. Disk 2 is a collection of previously unreleased material written for the movie. This CD will not blow you away as far as memorable melodies, except for track 6, which is absolutely gorgeous. There are other tracks with nice melodies too; however, the main attraction of this CD should be the mood and atmosphere generated by the tracks. They remind one of the unique style Vangelis once had during the early eighties. I think this CD is the highlight of the set.

Disk three is perhaps the reason why I gave this CD set only three stars. I actually like it for the most part. But I don't find it memorable. Sadly, as much as I am a big fan of Vangelis, I think that those days, marked by his remarkable creativity and uniqueness, are behind for good. Let's face it, perhaps one of the reasons why Vangelis no longer releases studio albums is because he has nothing new, fresh or unique to release. You still occasionally bump into some of his recent work, which has that spark that only Vangelis can deliver. Such sparce examples can be found in themes like "Young Alexander" in the Alexander soundtrack. However, one thing you will find absent in this album, and it has been absent in most of his recent work, is that touch that made his music stand out from the norm, those wonderful surprises that always kept you wondering where his music was going next. Gone seems to be his desire to experiment with sound. And perhaps it's hard to blame him for this, especially since keyboards nowadays come with thousands of pre-programmed sounds, covering such a wide spectrum, that it's hard (if not impossible) to create something that actually sounds different. Also, gone seems to be his uncanny ability to orchestrate music so delightfully and with such sweet, and memorable melodies. Instead, most of his music contains sounds which you've heard around a lot, or simple, overly repetitive, and non-fullfilling melodies. Piano in an Empty Room is an exception to the above, and is probably the gem from this CD.

Don't get me wrong. I still think this CD set is a worthwhile buy. Just don't expect anything too groundbreaking.

classic 70's electronica, 21 Jun 2008
Produced in the 70's before he really hit the big time, this is a slice of what made Vangelis the master of synth rock. This is up there against Tomita and J.M. Jarre, and comes out very well. We all gasped that only one man was making such wonderful music, remember this was before PCs and samples took over the world. There are complex and melodic pieces alongside percussion. There is an other worldly feel to the pieces which explains why this music was used in Carl Sagans "Cosmos". The spoken title track is quite haunting and ethereal, the sound effects of the speaking clock and telephone dialling a little twee. A great introduction to synthesizers and the template for many a late night session staring at the clear night sky as a callow youth, dreaming about the Chariot of the Gods.

Sounding a bit dated but still interesting, 06 Jun 2007
Albedo 0.39 was released in 1976 and finds Vangelis using a mix of synthesizers, percussion and a variety of other instruments. Some of the more melodic tracks achieved quite wide exposure at the time, most notably "Alpha", which was used on the American television series "Cosmos".

The album sounds very much of its time, especially with regard to Vangelis's use of the Apollo astronauts' voices in "Mare Tranquilitatis" and the British Post Office 'speaking clock' at the end of "Pulstar". Some of the tracks have an experimental feel and don't really work, most notably "Main Sequence". However, the "Sword of Orion" has a poetic elegance and the two "Nucleogenesis" tracks, very much 1970s rock but with unusual use of the organ, still sound quite exciting.

The narrator of the atmospheric "Albedo 0.39" track is not credited and some people assume it must be Vangelis himself, but apparently it was the album's recording engineer.

In summary, an interesting album but not as good as Vangelis's "L'Apocalypse des Animeux" or "China".

As fresh today.., 05 Sep 2002
It is astonishing that this record was released in 1976. 'Freefall' is comfortably 20 years ahead of its time and is reminiscent of Boards of Canada's quieter moments. Ignore the unhinged and unrepresentative 'Main Sequence'; the scary 'Intestinal Bat' and the title track are far superior.

SPACE ELECTRONICS AT THEIR FINEST, 25 Nov 2000
Greek keyboard wizard Vangelis was one of the pioneers of popular electronic music, before he became famous for film soundtracks such as 'Blade Runner' and 'Chariots of Fire', for which he won an Oscar. ALBEDO 0.39 was released at the height of his commercial success during the late 1970s, and remains one of his most focussed and appealing albums. Not only does it avoid the classical pretensions of his earlier works, but also the tiresome experimental dabblings of subsequent efforts. ALBEDO represents the composer at his most 'electronic'. The album can best be describes as 'Space Rock', with each of the eight tracks having an astronomical theme and a cosmic atmosphere. There is little in the way of the orchestral simulations that have typified most of Vangelis' work, and we are left with a series of very precise pieces full of lively fuzzy basses, jangly fills and synthetic solos. This does not undermine the composer's celebrated sense of melody, however, as ALBEDO is loaded with catchy tunes, and every piece shows lots of musical interest. The standout track must be 'Main Sequence', a blistering assault of stunning percussion work and dazzling keyboard virtuosity. This is electronic rock/fusion at its wildest, punctuated by sudden bursts of melody amidst a crashing cacophony. 'Sword of Orion' is one of Vangelis' most beautiful and soaring pieces of electronic music. 'Pulstar' is instantly recognisable owing to its frequent use on television programmes, while the album concludes with the title track. This features the man himself, reciting a series of cosmic facts about the earth as it travels through space. Not that musical, but a fascinating science lesson for those who are interested! For Vangelis fans, ALBEDO 0.39 is essential listening. Fans of electronic music with an astronomical theme should also check out Brian Eno's 'Apollo' Soundtrack.

an exceptional collaboration, 15 Feb 2008
Since this album first came out well over 25 years ago - I was in Hong Kong at the time and remember buying the cassette in a little record shop in Wanchai - it has always been right at the top of my all-time favourites list, which for me is saying something considering my enjoyment of a number of different genres.

The first track, I'll Find My Way Home, is full of positivity about the search for meaning and the benevolence of life, and slides effortlessly into the epiphanic and extremely dynamic State of Independence. These two tracks have been included in a number of Vangelis compilations and as a result have tended to overshadow the next two equally hypnotic songs, Beside and The Mayflower, the last of which features the mimicry talents of one David Coker, as does the title track, the extraordinarily creative and original Friends of Mr Cairo, with its changing melodies and sublime lyrics that weave between mystical experience and the appreciation of old films. Here's a sample from towards the end of the 12 minute track:

Did you see in the morning light?
I really talked, yes I did, to that early dawning light,
And I was privileged to be as I am to this day,
To be with you, to be with you, to be with you, to be with you...

After that comes what for me is the low point of the album, the rocky and rather out of place Back to School. Perhaps the lads felt a ballast was needed after what had come before. But the last song, Outside of This (Inside of That) brings back the sublime and hopeful mystical feeling that characterises the bulk of the album.

Of the four Jon and Vangelis albums this is probably the most impressive, though others might disagree - certainly it is the most consistently excellent and shows both the highly original Jon Anderson and the magnificently gifted Vangelis Papathanassiou at their brilliant best.


A Life-Long Friend of Mr Cairo, 14 May 2007
If I was still young enough to worry about things such as a list of my top 10 favourite Albums, this would be on it.

Anderson's voice is perfect for Vangelis music - neither seem as good without the other - both having a quality that allows you to drift off while at the same time being led in a certain direction. I played this to death when it came out 20 years ago and now the CD stays in the car, played over and over on long journeys.

The only bad thing is the cover artwork - never was an album so let down by the image portrayed.


Sublime oddness, 04 Nov 2006
This has long been one of my favourite albums - it's odd that it's so unknown, but then I guess the lead singer of hippy group Yes and a beardy Greek keyboard wizard don't make the most fashionable team-up. The album sounds like nothing else - ambient, futuristic, new age, but strangely old-fashioned. If you are more interested in what you are listening to than the fashion implications, then I thoroughly recommend you check it out.

Accept no imations, 24 Jul 2004
The original and by far the superior version of State of Indepedence, if anybody says didnt Donna Summer do that, you have my permission to slap them sensless.

Cheers Ta
Jap

The classic Jon and Vangelis album., 07 Oct 2000
At the time when this LP was first released, Jon and Vangelis were regarded as desperately unfashionable by the knowing music press. However, despite their dislike of the duo, many music journalists (working on, for example, Smash Hits) reluctantly conceded that here was an album of instantaneous classics which also had the likelihood of real staying power. And so it has proved. Two decades on, and The Friends of Mr Cairo enjoys potent longevity, continuing to mesmerise with its imaginative song writing, its seductive and luscious instrumentation, care of Vangelis, and the extraordinary vocal athleticism of Jon Anderson. All the songs are lyrical and evocative. Some, particularly the title track, aspire to moments of real audial beauty and purity. Few albums are consistently moving and transporting. This one, in its affirmatory celebration of love, memory, and identity, is a glorious exception.

Van-tastic !, 21 May 2008
Many people wondered what the outcome would be when Polish pianist Vangelis (pronounced Van-jealous) teamed up with Jon Anderson of The Yes.

And the results were much better than expected. Vangelis improvised on the keyboards while Anderson sang random collections of words and the result was quite entertaining.

Their real scoop of the project was managing to tape the late Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney for the song "Friends of Mister Cairo" in what turned out to be the last recorded performance of both actors.

Sadly the partnership ended when Vangelis took a wrong turn on a drive to Andersons house ended up at the home of noted actor and film producer, Lord David Attenborough. From thence Attenborough replaced Anderson on vocals, a pairing which resulted in the number one hit "Chariots of Fire".

This collection features all of the tracks mentioned except for "Friends of Mr Cairo" and "Chariots of Fire".

Timeless classics, 18 Jul 2002
Near the end of the 1970's, Jon Anderson, of "Yes" fame, teamed up with Greek virtuoso composer/performer Vangelis for a series of albums.

This 1984 compilation album contains a great selection of some of their best songs taken from several of them.

As an introduction to the work of Jon & Vangelis, this album is excellent. Highly recommended.

William Tell was never this good, 25 Apr 2007
They have hit bulls eye with this great CD.

Oh I love Deborah track 3, Polonaise track 4, Anderson at his super smashing best. Every track is a peach.

See what you two can achieve if you play nicely together.
Thank you for sharing it with us.

A must have for any fan, 02 Dec 2004
I was first introduced to this pair in 1984, when i was a mere teenager. I've waited twenty something years, many times of trying and not bringing up anything for my trouble in searching - now this - thank goodness they listen to us sometimes!! Absolutely hauntingly beautiful - so relaxing and memorable!

john+vangelis at their ultimate best., 12 May 2000
thought i had died and gone to heaven after listening to this superb c.d.Take time to listen and relax you will not be dissapointed.John Anderssons voice and the haunting sound of Vangelis go together superbly!Each track a masterpiece...

Simply Splendid, 19 Nov 2008
Heaven And Hell - Vangelis :- The words Perfect and Life Enhancing spring to mind. If you don't have this work in your collection,then you are a very poor person (musically). Sell your house and car,indeed your soul if need be, BUT GET THIS MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF WORK!

the first solo album on RCA that fanfared a great talent, 11 May 2008
The first solo album and a great epic championed to a rock audience by the greatly missed Alan "Fluff" Freeman. Good themes with lots of monk style cloister vocals, scary synth effects and three absolute highlights: the Jon Anderson sung "So long ago so clear" -one of the very best songs he has ever written (and I am counting all his Yes classics) and sung - beautiful. The other stand outs are a galloping synth theme which has a Ride of the Valkries type feel and the main theme itself. There is a great atmosphere throughout moving from themes of dread and joy echoing the work with his previous 60s group on the classic 666.

The only downside and the reason why I have not awarded five stars, is that there are only two track entry points on the CD, so the three tracks I have referred to above are not listed and can not be accessed separately. I am sure there were at least two-three track points on each side of the vinyl album, even if the tracks had no individual names. This CD urgently needs remastering, including new additional track entry points so that you can easily access favourite sections.

breathtaking, 20 Oct 2005
I am a fan of Vangelis and spend hours listening. Heaven and hell is uplifting, mixing classic and modern, violent and peaceful. I particularly like the drums and the discordant parts...I strongly recommend.

Even better 2nd time round, 09 Mar 2005
Being of a certain age I brought this album first time round and spent hours mentally drifting and mediatating to the music. I had lost contact with it and have found my way back to it via the track 12 oclock, I'm now about to buy it again.

A Trip through the Cosmos with Vangelis, 17 May 2003
I first encountered Heaven & Hell when viewing the TV Series Cosmos, written and presented by Dr Carl Sagan. The music haunted me for days until I discovered it had been written by Vangelis and was available as the album Heaven and Hell.

The haunting electronic melody takes the listener on a journey through time and space with changes in tempo which constantly keep you wondering what is coming next but at the same time, guiding you along the path, building to a crescendo with fury similar to 'Mars in The PLanets Suite. I venture to compare it to use this comparison but purists may well disagree.

An album for which to set-aside time and drift off onto a higher plain.

Got to have it., 05 Nov 2008
Blade Runner changed my life, I was born in 1979 so wasn't able to appreciate the film until it had been out a good 13 years (I actually saw the director's cut first). I bought the original soundtrack in 1999 and it has been an integral part of my life ever since, I have just discovered by accident that this album has been released, I'm so excited I might wee myself...

I apologise that this isn't actually a review but if you take my advice now to please buy this album then it was not a waste of your time to have read it. It is quite simply the most sublime soundtrack to a film ever made. A moment of clarity that only comes along once or twice a century...

Definitive soundtrack!, 01 Oct 2008
I always considered Vangelis' work for the "Blade Runner" soundtrack to be one of the most accomplished and definitive pieces he ever did for the universe of film. The music featured here is so evocative, its impact is so profound that it makes my mind travel through the most beautiful visions and landscapes. I would dare using Rutger Hauer's Batty final speech here: "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe! Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion... I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate... All those moments will be lost in time... like tears... in rain..." Except that those moments won't be lost in time for me, because they will forever be imprinted in my memories as some of the single most dazzling and wonderful that I have ever experienced when listening to music!

Wonderful!, 11 May 2008
The film is a stunning visual masterpiece. The Vangelis soundtrack is simply wonderful to listen to. It really does take you there. After watching the film again (Final cut edition). I found myself going back to parts of the film with the music that moved me. The mixture of piano and synths add power and sweetness to this film noir.
High lights for me was the opening theme as the spinner made it's a way across the city. The Love Theme is simply a beautiful piece of music which builds up nicely. Tear's in the rain, One Alone, and Fading away.


Best Vangelis release in recent times., 29 Mar 2008
I too am fed up with Blade Runner geeks harping on about the perfect bladerunner album.

What we have here is the best product vangelis has released in recent times. You get to hear some marvels in their entirety. Such as
'At Mr Chews', 'Deckard and Roys Duel' and 'Mechanical Toys'. The crown jewels of cd 2 is the sublime 'Desolation Path', which is perhaps evidence that some of Vangelis' best work still remains unreleased and is likely to remain so. As far as the Blade Runner score is concerned, everything worth putting in is here. The bits left out are effective as an underscore and probably wouldnt be worthwhile album material.

CD3 is at it should be different enough from the film and a new work. It is in the ilk of the albums 'The City' and 'Direct', which are the most underated works Vangelis has released. The track 'Spotkanie Z Matka' is subtly haunting and I still find myself humming the melody. The CD is just that, subtle and beautifuly put together without any over the top bombast.

I would say seasoned Vangelis fans would enjoy this product and is great value for money. Those that are more from the Blade Runner camp should also be thankfull and stop taking apart what is a great film and score. Film music is written to support and add to the film and picture and not every single not is suitable for an album. The product is just right and doesnt go into self gratification mode.
Next stop the unreleased music from 1492!

Forget the soundtrack, listen to the MUSIC, 28 Mar 2008
In many of the reviews I read here, I see that people seem more concerned with owning absolutely every note of music that existed in the movie (however irrelevant it may have been) than the music itself. Disk three, which is all new material, didn't even seem to interest some of the reviewers, who complain because disk 2 is not an exact repetition of what is present in the film. My review discusses the music, and the man who stands behind it, not the movie.

Those who are familiar with Vangelis know that most of his movie soundtracks have little in common with the music actually used in the movie. That is, Vangelis seems to concentrate more on releasing an album which can actually be listened to as music, and not as mere film cues. This part I always liked. If you want to get a faithful soundtrack of the movie, why waste money on your precious bootlegs? Just watch the movie!! Enjoy the music during the movie, 'cause it's hardly worth listening to without it.

Disk 1 is the same as the Blade Runner Soundtrack, released in 1994, no surprises there. Disk 2 is a collection of previously unreleased material written for the movie. This CD will not blow you away as far as memorable melodies, except for track 6, which is absolutely gorgeous. There are other tracks with nice melodies too; however, the main attraction of this CD should be the mood and atmosphere generated by the tracks. They remind one of the unique style Vangelis once had during the early eighties. I think this CD is the highlight of the set.

Disk three is perhaps the reason why I gave this CD set only three stars. I actually like it for the most part. But I don't find it memorable. Sadly, as much as I am a big fan of Vangelis, I think that those days, marked by his remarkable creativity and uniqueness, are behind for good. Let's face it, perhaps one of the reasons why Vangelis no longer releases studio albums is because he has nothing new, fresh or unique to release. You still occasionally bump into some of his recent work, which has that spark that only Vangelis can deliver. Such sparce examples can be found in themes like "Young Alexander" in the Alexander soundtrack. However, one thing you will find absent in this album, and it has been absent in most of his recent work, is that touch that made his music stand out from the norm, those wonderful surprises that always kept you wondering where his music was going next. Gone seems to be his desire to experiment with sound. And perhaps it's hard to blame him for this, especially since keyboards nowadays come with thousands of pre-programmed sounds, covering such a wide spectrum, that it's hard (if not impossible) to create something that actually sounds different. Also, gone seems to be his uncanny ability to orchestrate music so delightfully and with such sweet, and memorable melodies. Instead, most of his music contains sounds which you've heard around a lot, or simple, overly repetitive, and non-fullfilling melodies. Piano in an Empty Room is an exception to the above, and is probably the gem from this CD.

Don't get me wrong. I still think this CD set is a worthwhile buy. Just don't expect anything too groundbreaking.

classic 70's electronica, 21 Jun 2008
Produced in the 70's before he really hit the big time, this is a slice of what made Vangelis the master of synth rock. This is up there against Tomita and J.M. Jarre, and comes out very well. We all gasped that only one man was making such wonderful music, remember this was before PCs and samples took over the world. There are complex and melodic pieces alongside percussion. There is an other worldly feel to the pieces which explains why this music was used in Carl Sagans "Cosmos". The spoken title track is quite haunting and ethereal, the sound effects of the speaking clock and telephone dialling a little twee. A great introduction to synthesizers and the template for many a late night session staring at the clear night sky as a callow youth, dreaming about the Chariot of the Gods.

Sounding a bit dated but still interesting, 06 Jun 2007
Albedo 0.39 was released in 1976 and finds Vangelis using a mix of synthesizers, percussion and a variety of other instruments. Some of the more melodic tracks achieved quite wide exposure at the time, most notably "Alpha", which was used on the American television series "Cosmos".

The album sounds very much of its time, especially with regard to Vangelis's use of the Apollo astronauts' voices in "Mare Tranquilitatis" and the British Post Office 'speaking clock' at the end of "Pulstar". Some of the tracks have an experimental feel and don't really work, most notably "Main Sequence". However, the "Sword of Orion" has a poetic elegance and the two "Nucleogenesis" tracks, very much 1970s rock but with unusual use of the organ, still sound quite exciting.

The narrator of the atmospheric "Albedo 0.39" track is not credited and some people assume it must be Vangelis himself, but apparently it was the album's recording engineer.

In summary, an interesting album but not as good as Vangelis's "L'Apocalypse des Animeux" or "China".

As fresh today.., 05 Sep 2002
It is astonishing that this record was released in 1976. 'Freefall' is comfortably 20 years ahead of its time and is reminiscent of Boards of Canada's quieter moments. Ignore the unhinged and unrepresentative 'Main Sequence'; the scary 'Intestinal Bat' and the title track are far superior.

SPACE ELECTRONICS AT THEIR FINEST, 25 Nov 2000
Greek keyboard wizard