DIRECT

The 80s are finally close to finish. They were started with the worst techno-pop work for Vangelis, the very poor "See You Later". And effectively eight years later we have another high level work. There have been two "artsy" acts in the meantime. The barely listenable "Invisible Connection" and the unusual "Rapsodies", but now Vangelis is back.

I find the orchestral accents a bit excessive, sometimes disturbing, specially when the track title speaks of "The Motion Of Stars". Vangelis has composed excellent space rock in the past, but unfortunaltely this track is more similar to the first movement of "The Mask" than to Albedo 0.39.

"The Will Of The Wind" is great, instead. The pan flute (electronic as usual) reminds to the times of China, the rhythm is captivating and the melody is nice. The sound is unfortunately dated in the 80s. The opening track of Pete Bardens' "Seen One Earth" is very similar.

"Metallic Rain" is spacey and melodic. There are no experimentalisms in this album. Also this track is easy and captivating. I don't see anything wrong in being easy when the result is so good. The drumming that opens the rocky interlude of the track is not artsy or experimental, just good.

"Elsewhere" is the usual Vangelis. No influences from the 80s, this track may come from L'Apocalypse Des Animaux, only there are some spacey sounds behind the melody, Relax and enjoy.

The bass notes at the base of "Dial Out" are floydian. The melody is folky Greek first, celtic later during the orchestral interlude. Unfortunately it turns to electropop in the second half, but not too bad. We are still in the 80s.

A seashore for a soprano duo (keyboards?). "Glorianna" is orchestral and operistic. It has the usual orchestral accents that I dislike, but it can evocate the deep space or a starry night. This is a track that requires the right moment.

"Rotation's Logic" makes me think again to Pete Bardens and his "Seen One Earth". It's an easy track made of three chords. Radio friendly but very nice.

"The Oracle Of Apollo" with that sound of harp is one of the best moments of the album. Somewhere between Delphi and Dublin with a touch of classical.

"Message" contains elements useable to make a synthesis of Vangelis' music. The melody with classical influences, the voice at the beginning, the tempo very similar to "Alpha" (a track on Albedo 0.39), the maestosity of the orchestral final as in Chariots of Fire...

Deep in the 80s with "Ave". Does anybody know Rick Wright's Zee? That's the sound.

Another slow and quiet interlude: "First Approach" that leads to the closer. "Intergalactic Radio Station" is far from the space rock that the title let's suppose, but it's again in the spatial vein of the mentioned Pete Bardens' contemporary work. 3 solid stars. It would probably deserve the fourth, but "essential" for Vangelis means something more than this good album.