SPIRAL

Spiral is an album of quality without a doubt.Vangelis displayed a fine futuristic sound here. The album is more melodic than "Albedo 0.39" and I find it more favourable in that respect but it doesn't share the same atmosphere and emotion as some of the composer's early works such as "Heaven And Hell". On a positive note though, this really sets off to a fabulous start with the flurries or 'spiralling' sounds from the sequencer, a new and impressive technology in 1977, so it is hard not to admire Vangelis both for his expertise and innovation apart from it being a solid composition. 'Ballad' is next. It is quite odd but certainly very different to anything he had done up to that point which is important to note. I've always loved the way Vangelis twists many styles which is often very clever and hard to notice at first, such as the bluesy synth solo on 'Dervish Dancer'. The highlight on the whole album has to be the much celebrated To The Unknown Man' it is a slow, majestic one with a very nice build up. Three solid stars