666

It is hard to be a fan of prog without an interest in the wierd and unusual, but this album is certainly something special. While I am not usually a big fan of this type of experimentally outrageous music, this album is worth your time. Aphrodite's Child scored a wonder with 666 even if the album was a driving force in the band's demise.

It's a bit difficult to be objective with an album that I enjoy so much, but here we go. The two songs that generally attract the most attention are The Four Horsemen and Break. They are the closest thing to a radio hit off the album and it's no suprise. They are probably the easiest tracks to swallow by themselves. But, within the theme of this masterpiece, there are songs like Altamont and All The Seats Were Occupied that just blow me away. Throughout the album there are several very small (less than a minute) tracks that do a great job of seperating the music and making it easier to absorb at once. The other short tracks (appox. two minutes) like The Beast, Do It, Babylon, and Hic Et Nunc really have some incredible pieces to them.

Don't worry about ∞ either. Hearing Irene Papas chant in the throes of hysteria is not really a highlight of the album, but it carries with it a certain amount of charm (really not the proper word, but I don't know what is) that will have you listening to it more than you expect.

This unique blend of Greek culture and folk, experimentation, and creativity make this album worth every minute. The very nature of the work can be a bit much to take in one sitting, but push through and you will be pleased. It is certainly no wonder why John Anderson approached Vangelis to join Yes shortly after this release.

This is an album that every prog lover should try at least once.