Vangelis - Oceanic

A few departures and pretty moments aside, this is more of the same from Vangelis. "Islands of the Orient" is one track with a dash of spark and spirit. --Jeff Bateman Amazon.com

Very peaceful

First, let me warn you that I am not an audiophile! I don't know a lot about music--especially on a more technical level.

I am amazed at Vangelis' creativity. This is my 3rd album of his, and each album has a different sound to it. Oceanic is very soothing and peaceful. It isn't his best album (IMHO), but I like it very well. As the title suggests, it has a "watery" sound to it--surf crashing throughout, and music that has lovely swaying, rhythmic tunes, like gentle waves, and crescendos like big waves crashing, and sweet voices like merpeople or the nixe. Overall, I feel as though Vangelis has succeeded in creating music with an aquatic sound; I think I would know this album was about the ocean even without the title and the sounds of surf.

We listen to it often, as in addition to being pleasant to listen to, it's also great background music. It doesn't distract me when I'm studying, or drown out dinner table conversation. Of the three Vangelis albums we have so far, I enjoy Oceanic less than The City, but more then Direct. September 30, 2008

Simply Outstanding

This is an amazing work. From start to finish. Vangelis is just magical with his arrangements and orchestration on this album. The starting two tracks, "Bon Voyage" and "Sirens' Whispering" are so good and run so nicely into each other. I was hooked from the first listen.

'Oceanic' builds on itself better than most albums you will ever hear. 'Spanish Harbor' followed by 'Islands Of The Orient' and 'Fields Of Coral' is an amazing 3-hit punch of Vangelis masterpieces. 'Song Of The Seas' ends the experience with the same feel as the beginning, except by then you have been made just a little more "whole".
The entire album is a wonderful journey from start to finish, which is the best way to listen to it.

Vangelis really does take you to the ocean with this recording. HIGHLY recommended. June 19, 2008

The Perfect Sleeper

It's funny to read other reviews that complain that the CD didn't "take off" or that it "put them to sleep". For me, that's the beauty of this piece of music. It's absolutely beautiful!

It may seem odd to write a review so many years after a release, but this review is being submitted to verify that some music does stand the test of time. Music serves many purposes in my life and obviously this is not a disc I would play at the gym or night club. We are talking sleepy-time here. We're talking wine and headphones, relaxation! Seriously, I sometimes put a CD on at bedtime and like many others I enjoy drifting off to music. There's nothing worse than being on the edge of REM sleep and having the next track ruin the trip. But this is not just ambient nonsense, without structure or complexity. This disc is absoultely amazing and unlike some of the horn blazing synth sounds Vangelis produced years ago. Don't misunderstand me, I enjoyed that too, but I've realized over the past few years that I keep coming back to this one CD, over and over again, year after year. It's probably played on my player more than any other CD ever. ( since I usually try to sleep every night or so) The tracks are layered, lush, calming and beautiful. The ocean waves and the voices bring to mind undersea reefs and tropical island paradises. After all these years I still appreciate this piece of work and wonder how Vangelis did it. So if you want to escape, relax and or drift off on a beautiful journey, this is your CD. But beware, you might be asleep before the last track. June 3, 2008

One of his best

I just bought this CD, and I discovered this is really an excellent CD. I like all tracks and play it very often. January 12, 2008

A well-crafted piece of work

Vangelis' Oceanic was released in 1996. Its nine compositions are in a New Age musical direction. I find the songwriting, musicianship, and sound quality to be gratifying. The music of Oceanic is not only soothing and mysterious, but also serene, luxuriant, and therapeutic. While I think that all of the pieces are engaging, "Bon Voyage" and "Sirens' Whispering" are my favorites. "Bon Voyage" is beautiful and touching, and "Sirens' Whispering" is relaxing. The CD is almost 51 minutes. Actually, I rate this piece of work 3.5 stars. Oceanic is recommendable. June 22, 2007

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