1492 - CONQUEST OF PARADISE (OST)

Ridley Scott's movie about Columbus doesn't stand repeated views. But nevertheless the soundtrack is among my favourite albums (it gives much more than what you actually hear in the film). Many of you probably have heard the majestic title track with a choir. Frankly, if the whole album sounded that calculated, I wouldn't appreciate it much. It's glorious and energic all right, but the real pleasure is what follows. Like El Greco, this reflects a man of history (both men were foreigners living in Spain; Cristoforo Columbo was born Italian) and therefore the music has elements of the era, Queen Isabel's Spain, perfectly melted into Vangelis' own musical laguage. I believe 1492 is guaranteed to please enormously all who enjoy later romantic Vangelis. It includes his most beautiful piano melodies, almost unearthly atmospheres that take you deep into your own emotions. Let the closing track in all its 13 minutes hypnotize you.