DIRECT

In my earlier days of being a dedicated listener of VANGELIS (that was in the early 90's), this one was a key album for me, still bringing memories of the time of my first love whose favourite artists included Vangelis. If I listened to it now for the first time, it probably wouldn't make as deep impression, because he's done so much better albums since. This is, as the title says, very direct music. Direct in the sense that the beat can be upfront and that he's not ashamed of being very romantic on the more sensual tracks. Direct is hi-tech (at times almost mechanically calculated) and relatively tight instrumental electronic pop music, and also quite plainly from the eighties. But as such, it is IMHO the best Vangelis album of the eighties at least if some strong film soundtracks are not counted. Better than the more 'artistic' Mask, and definitely dozen times better than the collaboration albums with Jon Anderson. There is a lot of sweetness here too, but it's not too dominant. There is also a prog sensibility present.

It's hard to pick up the best tracks because there aren't very weak ones at all among the 12 tracks. But it's easier for me to pick up the ones with the stongest personal memories: first the most romantic ones, 'Elsewhere' and 'Glorianna' (the latter with beautiful wordless female vocals), then the sharp and dramatic ones 'Motion of Stars' and 'Metallic Rain', and finally the long closing track 'Intergalactic Radio Station' with the nearly-fanatic male voice at the end. "...Oh, by the way, it's been a great morning... It's a great morning now..."