EARTH

After the first approach with soundtracks, this album is opened by a rock track based on 12 strings guitar and percussions whose lyrics only say "Come on". I wouldn't be surprised to hear Amon Duul II play a song like this.

We have a trio. Bass and guitars will soon disapeear from Vangelis' albums to be replaced by keyboards, but unlike Hypothesys and The Dragon, there's no jazz.

"We Were All Uprooted" is influenced by Greek traditional music even if the repetitive slow tempo has something of krautrock. "Sunny Earth" is not much different after a first half based on 12-strings guitar it turns into ethnic. A bridge between South Europe and Africa.

"He-O" has lyrics, and a middle-eastern flavour while "Ritual" gives me the idea of ancient Greece. A Ritual for the Olympus Gods.

"Let It Happen" has some jazzy moments, specially in the instrumental part. The repetitive and almost funky singing is unusual for Vangelis. Very 70s stuff.

The minute of percussion and noises of "The City" is very evocative. Years later this concept will become an entire album and "Morning Papers" on that album will be able to transmit the same sensations in a different way.

"My Face In The Rain" is a melodic song on which Robert Fitoussi uses his highest pitch. After Demis and this song there's no surprise if Jon Anderson will become his favourite singer. Specially if you listen to "So Long Ago So Clear" on Heaven and Hell.

The absence of percussions and the soft sounds of this song are suddenly replaced by the darker "Watch Out". As all the tracks of this album on which the 12-strings guitar has an imprtant role I see connections with Krautrock in general and Amon Duul II in particular. Some of the sounds used in this track will become familiar to the listeners of Vangelis in the following albums.

"A Song" is again sung on high pitch and has no rhythm, but there's a tremolo effect on the voice that I find a bit disturbing. The melody based on minor chords reminds to the vocal part of the soprano Vana Veroutis on Heaven and Hell. A speaker says something about Earth and the album ends with soft and evocative keyboards.

I'm undecided about the rating. It's good and probably more accessible than some of his best works but there are other albums that I can consider essential, so even if it's a very good album I think it fits better in the 3 stars definition.