Up and down. But yeah his best were great to listen to. He is like the Classical version of Electronic Music. My favorite here.

 

I have to admit to a soft spot for some of his stuff - particularly the collaboration with Jon Anderson (perhaps this post is better placed in the thread for revelations which you cringe at admitting). It has to be said, though, that the brains behind many of his albums (around the Chariots of fire era) was a musician called Guy Protheroe. I'm not sure how much of Vangelis's stuff was produced unaided.

 

I forgot to mention my own favorite is Blade Runner. It's just so moody and it fits the movie so well. Without it the movie wouldn't be the same.
I was unaware of Guy Protheroe. Was he involved in Blade Runner too?

 

Huuuuuuuge fan. Have many 12"s hoiked from various car boots and dingy record shops. Alpha, Spiral and this have to be close to my favourites:

Far out! Ahem.

And Jeremy, how can you possibly be ashamed of liking J&V? I Hear You Now, amongst others, is still ace, and Heaven and Hell is legendary!

(I went kind of mental with the commas in the last sentence. No commas before and, hey! Nonsense. Removing any one seems unsettling. Now, i'm doing it with full stops, too. I'm. A. Maniac!).

 

For those into Vangelis should check out in his previous band. Aphrodite's Child

 

I've always enjoyed the Blade Runner soundtrack. Although his synths can sound a bit cheesy at times, the music far better than if they had chosen some run-of-the-mill 80's orchestral film composer. And it fits the movie quite well.

Here's an excellent track:

 

The music to Chariots of Fire will always assure him of a little place in my heart, and probably a little place in musical stereotyping history.

 

I like the more obscure stuff: Beauborg, China, and Opera Sauvage.

 

I like Vangelis Blade Runner soundtrack and recently aquired a box-set of his Heaven & Hell, Spiral and Albedo 0.39 Albums - I'm really impressed by his compositions!

 

 

Early Vangelis is much more interesting than some of his later stuff. His "Creation Du monde" from L'Apocalypse Des Animaux (1973) is imo proto-ambient, as is much of the rest of the album. Soil Festivities from 1984 is more mainstream, but still interesting, as is his Antarctica (1983) soundtrack. With his album Direct (1988) he went into a more "new agey" direction, and he lost me as a listener. Sorry about reanimating this dead thread, but as I was wandering through the mausoleum, I couldn't help myself.

 

I just listen to this compilation album when I crave Vangelis.

 

It was all (artistically) downhill after Aphrodite's Child's album, '666'.

 

I liked "Oceanic", "Conquest of Paradise", and some music from "Mythodea". Other than that, I don't know too much about him.

 

I prefer the earlier music from 'Heaven & Hell' and 'Entends-Tu Les Chiens Aboyer?' through to his albums with Jon Anderson, the last I bought being 'Private Collection' (I never heard the later 'Page of Life'). After this period, I found his music lacked something and became 'samey'. Some of his tracks have become synth-music classics, and they're great, but I prefer these two as probably my favourites.

From 'Entends-Tu Les Chiens Aboyer?'

From 'China'

 

Of his earlier albums, I find these three absolutely essential.

Blade Runner has some gems within. But of his later output. El Greco is the shining light.

Beyond that, there is a tendency for sameness. And a touch too much bombast at times.

 

I'm a big fan of his early solo work, as well as Aphrodite's Child.

'Heaven and Hell' is his best, with 'Albedo 0.39' being close. 'Opera Sauvage' and 'Ignacio' have some good stuff.

Didn't care for too much after that.

Not a fan of "Chariots of Fire' soundtrack, too wimpy. The 'Bladerunner' soundtrack was great for the film, but for me, does not hold up on its own.

On a side note, I still can't help but wonder what YES would have sounded like if Vangelis accepted their offer to join after Wakeman left. But then again, They released 'Relayer' with Patrick Moraz, their best album as far as I'm concerned.

 

When I watched blade runner, the soundtrack intrigued me. This is how I encountered Vangelis. A very pleasant encounter I have to say.

 

Some improvisations.

A shirtless Vangelis improvising and having fun before a concert, with synths and organs.

Spacy synth sounds, Blade Runner like

And a recent improvisation, sort of. Rather pompous I guess, but I think it's great how he manages to command this "orchestral-soundtrack" sound in real-time.

 

Maybe the predecessor for Daft Punk in Tron?

 

Vangelis is one of very few musicians who are able to make magic with only few tones. It's minimalistic music that doesn't try to be minimalistic. It's at the same time rich and repetitive/minimalistic.. but it's not always strictly like that. He is able to set strong moods and his sound is pretty much unique. I love his music as long as I can remember.