IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK

A melodic pop song. One of the most successfull of the end of the 60s. Based on the organ of Vangelis and the splendid high pitched voice of Demis Roussous whose bass playing justifies a comparison with Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade Of Pales.

The band is in a sort of exile. The "colonel's" regime is ruling Greece and even if Aphrodite's Child don't put too much politics in their songs, they are not much loved by the fascists as their "Rain and Tears", an arrangement from the Pachelbel's Canon in D major (another remind to Procol Harum) was become a sort of anthem of the "French May".

"It's Five O'Clock" finished to be one of the most successful singles of the period, but it was an exception, not the standard. The rest of the album is quite different. Too psychedelic for the mainstream public who loved the single, and unfortunately for us, too "proto" respect to the postumous masterpiece (as published after they disbanded) "666".

What comes next is vey different.

"Wake Up" is a kind of flower/power song of a kind which reminds me to "Antoine", a French singer of the same period and his Dylan's cover about throwing stones...the only remarkable things are that it's an ascending canon in the first half of the song and acquires a Beatles influence in the second half.

"Take your time" is a country-rock song. Very 60s as well. The bad is that Demis doesn't use his falsetto and Vangelis doesn't play organ. The two bigger strength of the band are not used.

They are used on "Annabella" instead. This is the first song of the album with a progressive appeal (consider that we are more into the "proto" zone). The seashore in the back could have been limited to the beginning and the end of the song. There's too much of it, but it's not so relevant.

"Let Me Love, Let Me Live" is a psychedelic song with flower/power lyrics. Like the psychedelic period of Beatles. Personally, I like the genre. The "let me love"crescendo takes too much, anyway.

"Funky Mary" contains hints of what they'll experiment better on "666". it's a percussion based song with bluesy vocals and almost no chords. A very interesting song closed by a nice piano contribute by Vangelis.

"Good Time So Fine" sounds East-Coast with a Broadway like female choir and a trumpet which adds an easy-jazz touch. Demis singing appears mimic of Louis Armstrong. Nota song to skip but surely not a highlight.

"Marie Jolie" is at least a song which takes advantage of Demis' high pitches. It's a melodic song with folk elements. One on which the Greek roots are evident. Instead of a 12-string guitar they could have used a bouzuki. Too melodic for my tastes but not a bad song at all. A curiosity: For many years I have thought that the song title was "Sometimes", the word with which it starts.

Finally it's likely a bouzuki that opens "Such A Funny Thing". A folky song on which Demis uses his highest pitches alternated to flute and piano.

It's not properly a progressive album, but I can suggest to listen to it because it's very "dated". It means that you can have an idea of how the late 60s were. Apart of the obvious Beatles King Crimson and Pink Floyd in 1969 were already on a different level. This is how the more artistic pop was sounding.