Vangelis - Albedo 0.39

Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. BMG. 2008. Album Description

Vangelis -Albedo 0.39

First class album -forerunner of the techno/electronic stuff but good (not ripped off or sampled ) Last track very interesting as well as good musically September 15, 2008

Symphonic grandeur

This 1976 release by Vangelis appears to be a favorite amongst prog fans. As a prog fan myself, I enjoy this album because the music is very exciting, with great drumming (by Vangelis no less) and dramatic flourishes on banks of synthesizers. Although the dreamier, spacier tracks on Albedo 0.39 are enjoyable, I also like it when Vangelis "cuts loose".

Vangelis plays all instruments on this album including bass guitar, various bits of percussion, a full drum kit, xylophone, and a gamelan (on Freefall). Although the exact synthesizers used on the album are not listed, it is likely that (based upon what I have read) some combination of the following synths was used: Minikorg 700S; Roland SH-1000; Roland SH-3A; Korg 800 DV; ARP Odyssey; and ARP sequencer. Non-synth keyboards that I can make out include pipe organ, Rhodes electric piano and acoustic piano. Found sounds on the album include recordings of the speaking clock and conversations between astronauts taken from the Apollo moon landing.

Vangelis really plays up a storm on this album and his drumming is pretty darn good. As is the case with his albums, he creates a number of moods with loads of keyboards and synthesizers - speaking of which, his use of sequencers on this album reminds me somewhat of Larry Fast's work around this time.

The nine tracks on the album range in length from 1:45 to the excellent two-part Nucleogenesis suite (a little over 12 minutes in length). The moods on the album range from deeply haunting and sad to vigorous and frenzied - I have to say that Albedo 0.39 features a bit more in the way of dynamic contrast than some of his other albums. Overall, there is a sweeping, almost symphonic grandeur to this album that I find very appealing (Alpha is a fine example of this).

All in all, this is an exceptional album by Vangelis and is highly recommended along with Opera Sauvage (1979) and Chariots of Fire (1981). November 10, 2007

Pulstar was actually a 'hit'!!

Back in the day i used to listen to a lot of rock on the radio. One day 'Pulstar' started getting airplay and i fell in love with this avant - prog yet hum-able style of rock. It was the begining of a journey i am still on. The discovery of bands like Yes (with whom Vangelis was associated), Genesis, King Crimson, etc. soon followed. But imagine a rock radio station actually pulling a 'weird' electronic piece like 'Pulstar' and playing it along side to Aerosmith and Steve Miller Band! Those were the days! Other reviewers have described this gemm all too well so i'll just add that this (IMHO) is the most prog and interestig album by Vangelis . Period. Grab it! April 16, 2007

has theme song from Death of a Princess / Cosmos

On this album, "Alpha" is the main theme song for the docu-drama "Death of a Princess" about a Saudi Royal Princess and this song was also part of Carl Sagan's Cosmos television series. This song alone is worth the purchase of the album April 22, 2005

Probably my favourite Vangelis album

I know some people prefer his orchestral and choral mush but give me this side of Vangelis any day. This is by far his most free and creative album. No constrictions of compositional niceties cramping his work here. Jazz, rock, electronica. This is for me his most exciting album; it gets your pulse racing rather than merely tickling the intellect. I prefer the short version of Pulstar from the vinyl EP but this version still thrills.

I just wish he'd produced more albums of this sort. March 8, 2005

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