PRIVATE COLLECTION

Jon & Vangelis together form a perfect accessible pop New Age with progressive elements. The keyboards here sound a bit more modern, echoed, crystal clear and flamboyant than on the "Friends of Mr. Cairo" and "Short Stories" albums. Jon Anderson has an excellent & extremely echoed voice. There is Vangelis' usual & omnipresent electric sounding piano. The epic track "Horizons" is very floating, symphonic & celestial, actually reminding me very much the "Chariots of fire" track, if we exclude the Anderson's vocals.

The other side contains 5 short tracks, still featuring Jon Anderson on lead vocals: "Italian Song" is absolutely majestic with a perfect combination of Anderson's magical voice and ethereal & floating keyboards. "And when the night comes down" is very accessible & cute, saying: "A woman needs her sex to feel alive". "Deborah" and "Polonaise" are ABSOLUTELY intense, catchy and beautiful! Those 4 tracks are quite romantic. The more repetitive final track "He is sailing" sounds like the ones on the "Short stories" album, and I would say it gives the pace for the sound & style of the Vangelis' "Direct" album! TONS of sentimental women should like at least this memorable side made of shorter tracks!

Rating: 4.5 stars