ALEXANDER (OST)

Let's get one thing straight, I thought that the movie "Alexander" was a very average film and didn't properly explore the story. When I first saw the movie I felt disgusted and waited impatiently for it to end. I didn't at all listen to the music from it, I just hoped in vain that the film would some how get very good all of a sudden. I've never walked out of a cinema, or stoped watching a movie before save "Hero", but this film was very average.

It was only until very recently that I discovered the soundtrack to Alexander was in fact written by Vangelis, one of my favourite musicians. After much contemplation I purchased the soundtrack and tried to forget that it was written for a movie. On its own the soundtrack is fantastic, try to forget the film and if you haven't seen it then that's even better! By itself the album is far better than the movie and it gives an instrumental interpretation of the life of, and conquests of Alexander the Great.

The album is full of both beautiful and savage moments. The solo violin melody on "Roxane's Veil" is amazingly beautiful and as a whole the album is very nice. In particular "Across the Mountains" is cool. More aggressive moments pop-up in songs like "The Drums of Guagamela" and "The Charge" both of which are based around the same melody although there is some variation between the two.

While not quite up to scratch with "1492 - Conquest of Paradise","Alexander" became one of my favourite Vangelis albums. I have to admit though that this album is truly not progressive at all and is more orchestral and New-age based than anything else, as is most post eighties by Vangelis. In addition to this there is also a strong ethnic influence in the music. There is that element of Vangelis that makes the sound of an orchestra and choir unique in that he is able to make the instruments speak their message - if you know what I mean.

"Alexander" is quite an easy album to listen to as it is split-up into 18 shortish songs, opposed to what he did with "Heaven and Hell." I guess that was one of the many things that made that album different I suppose. SO basically you get around an hour of "conceptual" music which has something for most music fans.

1.Introduction(4/5) 2.Young Alexander (4/5) 3.Titans (4/5) 4.The Drums of Guagamela (4/5) 5.One Morning at Pella (4/5) 6.Roxane's Dance (4/5) 7.Eastern Path (4/5) 8.Gardens of Delight (3.5/5) 9.Roxane's Veil (5/5) 10.Bagoas' Dance (4/5) 11.The Charge (3.5/5) 12.Preparation (3.5/5) 13.Across the Mountains (5/5) 14.Chant (3/5) 15.Immortality (4/5) 16.Dream of Babylon (4/5) 17.Eternal Alexander (5/5) 18.Tender Memories (5/5) Total = 69.5 divided by 18 (number of songs) = 3.86 = 4 stars

Excellent addition to any (prog) music collection

To all of you who have seen "Alexander" and hated it I suggest that you forget you ever saw it and by this album. Treat it as though the story is new to you, in this way you may be able to enjoy the album more than the film. Take the cover CD booklet out of the CD case to help you forget for god sakes. I'd recommend this album to fans of new-age Vangelis, just don't expect something like "Heaven and Hell."