EARTH

An excellent album from Vangelis's pre synthy era, much more of a soft prog album like the Moody Blues or BJH, but with an intoxicating Mediterranean feel- lots of acoustic guitars and some thumpy ethnic-sounding drums. Vocals are surprisingly prominent, with good English lyrics. The keyboard textures from mellotrons, organs and Moogs are beautiful, especially on the ballad "My Face in the Rain". Though this album sounds more like Aphrodite's Child than it does his work from the late 70s, this is actually one of Vangelis's stronger albums, with a wealth of great psych rock ideas mixed with a distinct Greek feel that wouldn't be hinted at again until some of the pieces on the Blade Runner soundtrack.