PAGE OF LIFE

This review refers to the 1998 edition. This is perhaps the most pleasant of their collaborations. The sound is deep and rich even without the typical Vangelis lushness. Jon is in good voice here and sings smoothly without getting sentimental. The album opens with Jon's anthemic Change We Must. The chords build swiftly yet gently until the sound fills the air. Many of the songs would fall into the Adult Contemporary category ?soft and catchy, but again, with full rich sound. Some of the highlights/standouts include Money, which almost rocks ? it certainly has plenty of oomph to it, Little Guitar, which is a short and sweet guitar piece (sampled?), and the epic Wisdom Chain, which features the only time Vangelis cuts loose on this disk. The piece is in two parts: A baroque Vangelis instrumental followed by an anthemic Jon kind of song. This piece runs 10 minutes. Page of Life has the best overall sound of any of their collaborations, probably due to advances in recording technology. Though highly enjoyable, it does not reach the heights of Private Collection. Many Vangelis fans might find it too Adult Contemporary in sound, but casual listeners would probably enjoy it, especially those who appreciate melody over displaying virtuosity. Most Jon & Vangelis fans would like it. This album follows well along with the light mood established by Oceanic.