It was a Blade Runner Crimbo for me, with the Blade Runner briefcase arriving before the 24th, and the 3-CD set of the soundtrack. Sorry Vangelis, I'm still miffed that the soundtrack couldn't be released as a proper soundtrack with the cues in order as they are in the movie.
Still, any Vangelis is better than none. El Greco - what's it like
BTW: the new print of Blade Runner is beautiful (for any fence sitters wondering wether it's worth getting)
El Greco is a bit like the El Greco album from the 1990' for the chosen sounds (choir, oboe, deep strings, bells, piano, ...) and melodies (the byzantin harp melodies we also hear in El Greco and Mythodea do appear here). Harmonic developments are very typical from Vangelis too.
But the sound mix is IMHO one of the best we ever heard from the Greek maestro. I think his 'semi-symphonic' style has never been so brilliant and flowing, and in the same time restrained and intimate... I also must had that some parts of the soundtrack are really beautiful (part 1, 2 and 12 - for me one of the best symphonic pieces by Vangelis ever - in particular). And as a lover of Cretan music, I like the way that the 3 traditional pieces are mixed in the electronic sound.
So IMO a must by (but only as an import from Greece or from specialised shop) for every Vangelis fan !
And by the way, the BR 25 is also very nice, but in a very different style (more ethnic jazz / loundge electronica).
Le plus grand don que Dieu, dans sa largesse, fit en créant, le plus conforme à sa bonté, celui auquel il accorde le plus de prix, fut la liberté de la volonté.
(Dante)
sparrow wrote:The new El Greco album is simply sublime IMO. Beautiful melodies throughout. Very sad melancholic feel but his best in years.
Sounds good.
Can you tell me if its more an orchestral score (ala Alexander) or more electronic sounding?
It has a choir on a few tracks & Although the music content is in an orchestral vein it is al played on synths. Even the three songs which are traditional folk songs meld into the album beautifully. Also the tracks meld into each other even although they are all very short. It is up there with the big man's best work and I agree with Timer it is a better listen than Alexander.