Contractual obligation?

I've never been able to figure this out. It's not my least favourite Vangelis album (Heaven and Hell is) but it's not my favourite either (Albedo, Spiral, and China are). It's either a contractual obligation album to meet his obligations to RCA before downgrading to another label that produced vastly inferior pressings. Or it's a serious work of art. Or it's a bit of fun.

To me it sounds like he just bought a new synth and sat at home recording it (in mono) while he experimented to see what it could do. He then took the resulting tape into the studio, edited it, added echo and reverb, and panned the mono signal around to make it interesting. It certainly shows off the sonic capabilities of the analogue synth.

I like to listen to it now and again. I like to imagine what some of the snippets would have been like if he'd fully developed them.

If you like his post-Chariots stuff, you'll probably not like this. If you like his more creative early stuff, I think you might. My advice is to try before you buy.

Warning to Die-hard fans!!!!

In my opinion this album is fantastic, however I want to warn those of you who are die-hard fans of Vangelis, looking to purchase this album.

DO NOT purchase the newer CD's released on Wyhdham Hill records, the master used to make the CD was messed up and there are subtle errors in the speed of the recording (kinda like when your answering machine tape gets messed up and has a section or two where it speeds up really fast or slows down).
If quality is important to you, I strongly suggest that you purchase only the vynyl or the earlier CD's with the RCA label on them. Sure, the album may have a lot of random surrealness to it, but if you are switching from vynyl/tape to CD, it can be a bit jarring when you hear the errors. For those who have never heard the album, it may not be noticable.
Beyond that it is one of my favorite Vangelis albums. It's randomness and unregulated "noise" has earned it top position in my collection for relaxation music/sounds

Beware

Beware! This album is not even close to being a masterpiece like El Greco, Bladerunner, Chariots of Fire, and many more fan favorites. But don't let this album scare you.

Whenever you listen to his music, you can pretty much sing along to his tune or beat and the same time visually paint a picture in your mind - that's Vangelis's formula of success.

Beaubourg does not apply to this formula at all. There is no beat or chorus. You hear crazy synthesizer noises and repetitive bleeps...after a while the music blends to something else which is hard to describe. I thought this was a neat sound effect. Maybe there is a tune but its very faint and you REALLY have to have a keen sense of hearing. Vangelis challenges his die hard fans to listen to something radically different.

This strange music is only a skeleton of the work. It's incomplete. In other words, YOU have to provide your own thoughts and imagination to his strange music in order to get a complete grasp of what you're hearing. Beaubourg goes beyond the range of the ear and requires careful attention and maybe even meditation to really appreciate this album.

For example, whenever I listen to this album (Only my 3rd time), I like to picture strange insects or bizarre creatures.
The tracks are very long and repetitive. Sometimes even I can't take it any more and I lose my patience. I would immediately switch to something else worthy to listen to like 1492 or Bladerunner.

I recommend this album for the die-hard fans who want to explore every range of sound beyond what the ear is normally accustomed to hearing. Also check out "Invisible Connections" - very identical in music style to Beaubourg. Actually, its more bizarre! Hope this review helps out.