SPIRAL

I certainly have not heard all that Vangelis has to offer, but I have heard enough to know that there is a good deal in his sizable repertoire that I really enjoy. Given the variety on offer, it is hard to know where to make the next move. Heaven & Hell and Albedo 0.39 while not perfect are among the most excellent and ambitious albums I have ever heard. The logical progression in mind was to pursue the next most highly rated album of about that era and thus, I arrived at Spiral.

What I found is an album which is technically proficient, but cold. The incredible fire which went into make those other works seems to have gone out or at the very least been pressed into service elsewhere. The best track on the album is the opener and title track which sounds like it could have been lifted directly from Albedo 0.39. To the Unknown Man is also pleasantly uplifting if a bit aloof. Afterward however, Vangelis seems content to mimic the mechanistic style of his German contemporaries, especially Tangerine Dream. What I always appreciate about Vangelis' music is that, even though he composes primarily using synthetic instrumentation, he brings a feeling and passion which pushes through the detachment of his chosen medium.

I can appreciate that this is the album that Vangelis wanted to make at the time, and I trust that he was still passionate about his work, but I'll take explosive and unpredictable if inconsistent over focused banal any day when it comes to Vangelis. To be honest, I do not particularly recommend this album. I consider myself a fan, but this album is not really possessing of the qualities which endear me to Vangelis. 2 out of five, for collectors/fans.