OPÉRA SAUVAGE (OST)

Vangelis released two albums in '79, the other was China. Opera Sauvage was composed for a French TV series, and it's considered to be one of his most accessible works from the 70's. The romantic 'Hymne' was later used in a TV ad, which made it one of his best known tracks for wide audience. But completely another question is, how important for the more advanced listeners is this album in the whole discography. Not so necessary, as it contains rather typical Vangelis tunes that are pretty beautiful per se, but it's a relatively mild "middle of the road" product, easy to like and easy to ignore. Therefor it's more recommendable to relaxation-seeking new listeners of Vangelis - or electronic music in general - than to those who have already heard a lot.

Album's highlight is 12½ -minute 'Reve' (=dream); soft, dreamy, melancholic, and reminding some parts of the Blade Runner sountrack - which is much better album in total. Also the short 'Mouettes' is a delicate and tender track which has dozens of similar cousins in the discography. 'Chromatique' reminds me distantly of a theme from Mutiny On The Bounty ('Deliverance'?), which is much more effective. 'Irlande': again, quiet and sleepy one. Actually this album (with some CD player programming) would serve well to put one into sleep at night. The other long track 'Flamants Roses' momentarily breaks up the sleepy atmosphere where it starts from and returns to - with another Blade Runner feeling. That final track gives the album's only surprise in the form of some harp playing by JON ANDERSON. Yeah, no vocals this time. 2,5 stars, rounded up for the fact that there is hardly nothing to dislike on this safe album.

PS. Ricochet's lengthy 2-star review is one of the deepest in thought that I've read lately.