IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK

A year after the release of their début album, Aphrodite's Child followed it up with this set. "It's five O'clock" does not represent any progression as such, the nine pop based tracks here running to around 35 minutes in total. By the time of these recordings, the band were already down to a trio with Anargyros Koulouris having been conscripted in Greece. Interestingly, it is Demous Rousos who therefore plays the guitar parts. Once again, the song-writing is almost exclusively in the hands of Vangelis, this time in partnership with Richard Francis. Demis Roussos does write one track ("Annabella") with Richard Adams.

The opening title track is one of the highlights of the album, with Rousos delivering a fine vocal performance, and Vangelis adding some excellent keyboards. The song was released as a single, backed by the second album track "Wake up". If the title track represents the band at their commercial best, "Wake up" is its antithesis, being pure euro- pop. "Take Your Time" is equally dismissal, but this time the band infuse a country barn dance element into the music.

The ballads are generally the songs which work best here, the aforementioned "Annabella" being another of the better songs. Unfortunately, there are not that many ballads, with songs such as the awful hippy chant "Let me love, let me live" being afforded far more space that they warrant.

Aphrodite's Child are highly respected in prog circles. The simple fact is though that the respect is entirely due to their third and final album "666". On their own, the two albums which precede "666", would probably not even qualify for addition to this site under the proto-prog category. While they contain well performed music with a clear level of sophistication and ambition, they are by and large collections of 60's pop. They can still make for an enjoyable listen though.

The recently released CD version of the album includes 6 further tracks, all of which were non-album singles and their B sides.

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