1492 - CONQUEST OF PARADISE (OST)

Movie soundtrack is not an easy genre. One of the challenges for the composer is to strengthen the soul of the movie, and in the other way around, the song itself should be able to present the soul of the story. This is what I think the beauty of this album. The film is about a thrilling journey, ambition, fear and hope, that are well captured by the composition. Vangelis wrote several wonderful music scores for film. Conquest of Paradise and Chariot of Fire are among my favorites.

The title track 'Conquest of Paradise' is a beautiful track. Hearing this track make it is easy to visualize the scene of ships in the ocean, sailing ambitiously but worryingly. It starts with choir with a bit dark sound and gradually turns to a more optimistic mood and then ended gloriously, just like a hope that ends with fulfillment.

There are other great tracks like 'Light and Shadow', with predominant haunting choir and great theme, 'Deliverance' that has a nice flamenco guitar playing in both intro and outro (and also another great short choir part in the middle) and 'Twenty Eight Parallel' has a lot of Vangelis signature movement. This track uses the main theme of the title track but in a simpler and lighter arrangement and calmer mood.

Overall a very good soundtrack album, even the progressive elements are not very strong. The theme is very catchy and well-orchestrated. A soundtrack that really well suited to the story. Get the excitement of sailing away to the sea while spinning this album.