VANGELIS & IRENE PAPAS: RAPSODIES

This is the second collaboration with the late actress/vocalist Irene Papas. The first album, entitled "Odes", is similar in that the pieces are based on traditional (ancient) Greek songs (and/or perhaps poems). If the guy selling this LP at the record convention hadn't put a sticker on it labelling it a Vangelis release, I never would have known; the all-Greek writng gives no hint to the ignorant American. I prefer "Odes" overall, but this is an interesting release. I'd probably like it more if I could find it on CD.

This is the second collaboration between Vangelis and Irene Papas after « Odes » released in 78. I couldn't say that I was impressed by the first one.

Irene Papas is not as present on this work as on "Odes" and I won't be sorry for this. I never consider her input as truly relevant. Let's be honest: she was never considered as a great vocalist: nor in Greece or elsewhere. She accompanied two Vangelis albums; but no major ones for sure. Her input here doesn't raise the quality of the album any further. On the contrary.

After a bombastic and instrumental opener ("Ti Ipermacho Stratigo"), she participates in her duty during the aerial "O! Gliki Mou Ear"; To tell you that this song is a masterpiece, would be untrue?These lamentations are quite useless to be honest.

No wonder that I prefer the instrumental parts (total of two) from this album than the sung ones (five). In this respect, the title song offers nice soundscapes and I consider it as one of the (two) best songs of this album. But there are little to choose from.

The worse moment of this album is also the longest one: over eleven minutes of a solid musical desert; completed by desperate vocals. It is really hard to endure. Fortunately, this album will be the last collaboration between Vangelis and Irene Papas.

Two stars for this, and I am very generous.

The Greek signs at the topof the cover are the names of Irene Papas (on the left) and Vangelis Papathanassious (on the right).

Said so, this is the second collaboration between the two artists and I have bought both in the same day in Crete as I have written in the review of "Odes".

Unfortunately the years passed between the two releases have changed a lot of things. While the first album was more "musical", this one is centered more on the actress skill of Irene. The concept is the Easter and the death of Jesus Christ with a very ethnic touch as it's a sort of elaboration of the Greek hortodox traditional chants for Easter.

"Ti Ipermacho Stratigo" (The General Defender) seems to be intended as a movie soundtrack, with battle noises, an "epic" introduction, then quietness and a usual Vangelis simil-orchestral performance with martial accents. Good for a soundtrack.

"O! Gliki Mou Ear" (My Sweet Ear) is a very melodic, and very Greek song in the first half. It0s a song for the Thursday before the Greek Easter. It's the lament of Mary looking at the dead Christ. The music is too peaceful and solar for the argument.

"Ton Ninfoma Sou Vlepo" (In the Briding Chamber I see Him) Is a short vocal chant for the Sundey evening. It's followed by "Rapsodia". Here the things start to be more dramatic. The music is darker, probably more appropriate to the concept, but since now on one has to be in the right state of mind for this album.

"Tin Oreotita Parthenias so" (The beauty of the Virgin) is enhanced by the voice and the interpretation of Irene. Vangelis lets her sing over a subtle keyboard, emerging from the backgroud only between a stanza and another. This is a peaceful hymn, probably the best thing of this album. The sound is close to the epicness of "Chariots of Fire".

"Christos Anesti" (Christ Resurrected) is the basic hymn of the Greek Easter. Vangelis tries to be evocative, but the dark sounds, the strong percussions seems tp be speaking of Death instead of resurrection.

"Asma Asmaton" (Song of the Songs) is taken fom the Bible. I'm not an expert so I don't know which part of the Bible it is. I know that's a woman speaking in a poetic way of a beautiful and beloved man. Magdalene and Christ maybe. The music is dark and the song is like a lament. (To be honest, too dark and too lament for me).

The general level of the music is a bit lower compared to the usual Vangelis, but he's giving room to Irene Papas and her actress skill.

3 stars.