@t7,06 @^@t1@f09@cCD reviews: @t1 @f00This time I will review two recently released CD's, both are from musicians who have been around for quite a long time, but haven't yet lost their actuality at all. The reviewed CD's are respectively: the soundtrack from @t2'1492, a Conquest of Paradise'@t1 by @t3Vangelis@t1, and @t2'Tubular Bells II'@t1 by @t3Mike Oldfield@t1. Starting with the CD by @t2Vangelis@t1: We all know Vangelis. He is mostly known for his atmospheric tunes that accompany award-winning movies, and his music is often used as background for various TV programs. The most known album is @t4'Chariots of Fire'@t1, because Vangelis got an Oscar for that one. Also known are his CD's @^ @t4'Antartica'@t1, or the @t4'Themes'@t1 CD, a compilation of several TV/Film music by Vangelis. For him, it all started while making the background musics for French programs dealing with the nature. The most known score must be @t5'La Petite Fille de la Mer'@t1, from the CD @t4'Apocalypse des Animaux'@t1. @t5'1492'@t1 is a film by @t6Ridley Scott@t1, and was mainly released this year because it's 500 years ago that Columbus discovered America. You will see star actors like French @t6Gerard Depardieu@t1 playing Columbus, and @t6Signourney Weaver@t1 (Alien Trilogy) as Queen Elisabeth, who welcomed Columbus a hero, when he returned from his trip. Vangelis has been working with Scott before, on the cult movie @t3Bladerunner@t1, which is @#@^ one of the two films every computer freak should have seen (the other one is @t3Tron@t1, by the way), and the music he created for that film is simply unforgettable. The CD comes with a nice booklet, featuring the usual talk about the movie (how good it actually is), some dated pictures from Vangelis (who doesn't show up too often, but prefers to work at his own place without everybody interfering) and some nice shots from the movie, as well. Pictures are of photo-quality, by the way.. But now to the contents of the CD, which is the most important part, right? 1492 contains 12 atmospheric tunes, all of them seem to fit in perfectly with the film itself. But when you are listening to the music @^ without having seen the movie first, you will still catch the atmosphere. The first song is the @t6Opening@t1, which could easily have been used to introduce a space-trip movie, because it's a bit mysterious, and doesn't say much about the theme of the movie yet. Then however, @t6Conquest of Paradise@t1, the second song starts. This one is accompanied by traditional voices, which is Latin, and mixed perfectly with Vangelis' music. This one immediately tells you where you are: in a country that still has Latin as the leading language, where Church still has its influence, so to speak. In those days, only two remain: Italy and Spain. Before you actually find out that it's Spain, that takes quite some time. It is not until the 8th song before some traditional South A- @#@^ merican music (with panflutes and the like) shows up. then you can conclude that we have to do with conquerors, who went to a new territory, undiscovered as of yet, and first meet the surprised inhabitants, which they call Indians. This is also the tune that is played when the crew of Columbus' ship sees the land. The 8th tune, called @t6Eternity@t1, is followed by the 9th one, called @t6Hispanola@t1. this is actually my favourite one, because it is cast of so mysteriously, with a voice in the background that you could compare to an Islamite Iman, but which fits in with the music perfectly. Concluding: Vangelis once again made a masterpiece, and by using different techniques (like traditional songs) he widens his territory. There was @^ not given so much facts about the CD, the only thing you could do was see the movie, and buy the CD. Because the music will enchant you, and you will have pleasure in listening to it for years to come. To those of you who do not like this kind of music: Try it, borrow it from a friend or what. It's not the easiest to get in to, but you must learn to appreciate its beauty... To those who like Vangelis: Buy it, this is essential! @t7Overall: 9@t1 -------------------------------------- And now for the other one, namely @t3Tubular Bells II@t1 by @t2Mike Oldfield@t1. Well, I don't know so much about Oldfield, at least not so much as I know about Vangelis, but because the @#@^ CD was promoted so much and because I liked the first version of @t3Tubular Bells@t1, I bought this one. And I don't regret doing so!! The CD, unlike the first @t3Tubular Bels@t1 one (only Tubular Bells Part I and II), contains 14 songs, through which you can easily recognize the returning theme from Tubular Bells, in a bit newer jacket. @t4Sentinel@t1 actually is some sort of remix of the original version of Tubular Bells, and also the song that was in the charts (but didn't get too high, if I recall correctly). What is nice on this CD: all tunes more or less fade over, so you have a 60 minutes long experience which you will never forget. As said, @t4Sentinel@t1 casts off the action, and this tune is quite long, some 8 minutes. Then the second tune follows, called @t4Pulstar@t1. @^ Personally I think that is the weakest tune on the entire CD, especially the intro. Perhaps this is because I don't like the electric guitar (with ever so slight distortion) too much... After some minutes thoguh, suddenly you recognize the Tubular Bells theme again. Really wonderful, how this is mixed through the songs so wonderful.. Then the third song starts, called @t4'Clear Light'@t1 and this is one of the three best songs on the CD. In the background you hear softly a woman voice singing along, and the main theme is formed by the acoustic guitar, with electric coming through it sometimes (but now it fits in with the music just fine). And yes, it doesn't take long... Around the fourth minute, Tubular Bells' theme rushes along again, in a different @#@^ setup, but still easily recognisable. At the end of song no.4, called @t4Blue Saloon@t1, we heat the explanation for its titel: some Western-style music rushes by. The nest song is called @t4Sunjammer@t1, and is indeed a 'jammer', it's somewhat faster, with more guitar. But... I guess you realized... After the 'heavy' (excuse the word), T.B. theme comes again, and takes over the lead. At the end of this song, youare surprised by some fine piano music, which silently fades over in he sixth song, which you might call the end of the first part. This song is slow and soft, with the woman's voice pleasing your ears again.. At the end of song six, the introduction for part II starts, which is called @t4The Bell@t1, and could be seen as the main part of the CD. Here some @^ instruments are heard that are introduced by a male voice. As last instrument you hear the Tubular Bells, of course... Now there is an end, and the next song starts by itself. When you think there is no longer the influence of the Tubular Bells theme, you are quite right!... Song 8, called @t4'Weightless'@t1, is superb. This the second best song on the CD. The third one can be heard in no.12, called @t4Altered State@t1. But first we hear the theme from end of @t4Blue Saloon@t1 coming back: song 9 is called the @t4Great Plain@t1, and features Western-style music. The next song, @t4Sunset Door@t1, could even be called 'Italian-like', with its weird instruments, and the one following, @t4Tattoo@t1, has Irish pipes in it. Europe in one CD, perhaps? Anyway, then tune 12 starts off. This @#@^ one is really funny, and breaks with the more or les serious songs heard before. You here Sesame-Street-like voices of amother and child, talking to each other, with cool music in the background... This one could do well for the Muppets Show! This is the third song I like best... Then we here the slow song 13 (@t4Maya Gold@t1), and to close off the CD, the -again Western like- tune @t4Moonshine@t1. End of the experience... Concluding: it's advised not to listen to each song seperatly! You really need to listen to the complete CD to catch the feeling. Well, @t3Tubular Bells II@t1 is a great CD, although I think it's a shame that some of the tunes don't really seem to fit in with the main theme. But then, @^ nothing is perfect, is it? Still, if I had the choice, I'd go for @t3'1492'@t1 by Vangelis. @t7Overall: 8 @t1 CyberSonik of Alcatraz Cyber and Cyber @@