EL GRECO

Those who say Vangelis was good only in the seventies and pick up "Heaven and Hell" as a masterpiece, should give another try to later works too. It can't be judged as a mere New Age sentimentality. This tribute to the religious painter El Greco is a perfect example how Vangelis is still a true artist who pays no attention to commerciality or EasyListening. Music is mostly slow and ethereal, but it never comes down to New Age Relaxation -kind of wallpaper music. Vangelis has made a musical interpretation of the life and works of El Greco (Greek who worked mostly in Spain, 16th-17th century if I remember right). As a foreigner I find it hard to find proper English words to describe this music: sacred? divine? Emotionally deep and strong. Spiritually uplifting. Music for the mind's eyes. NOT for background listening! This music should be given complete attention by the listener who has a certain patience in the first place. As guest musicians there are Montserrat Caballe and a Greek tenor (separately), and their Movements are just as divine - nothing to do with opera - as the whole album. 73 minutes long opus, it may get sleepy to an average listener, but frankly, to me this is a perfect work of art that can ALMOST be compared to Mahler.____ (There are no proper track titles. After bying this I went to a library and borrowed a book on El Greco and chose paintings that would match with tracks: e.g. 'Agony in the Garden', 'Burial of Count Ortiz' and 'Ascension'. Would be interesting to know if Vangelis had same paintings in mind.)