A sountrack for..............

The music of Vangelis can be described as a film soundtrack without the film. In many cases his music has been used for film even though that was not its original intended use. When people hear "Heaven & Hell" they immediately think of Carl Sagan's celebrated tv series "Cosmos", or "L'Enfant" they think of Peter Weir's oscar winning "The Year of Living Dangerously" starring Mel Gibson. Now having heard "See You Later," Vangelis proves once again how cinematic his music is.

"I Can't Take It Anymore"
-A very nice little electronic song. Sounds like a machine successfully breaking free.
"Multi Track Suggestion"
-A somewhat downbeat tune. Not one of the album's better efforts.
"Memories of Green"
-A Classic!!!! A sad,reflective,sentimental and haunting piece. One of his best ever. Ridley Scott used it brilliantly in a scene where Rachel and Deckard come to terms with their humanity or lack there of in "Bladerunner"
"Not A Bit - All of it "

-A very quirky but catchy song. Sounds as if it came out of a TV broadcast from the world of Terry Gilliam's "Brazil".
"Suffocation"
-A nice 1980's electronic song. A bit dated but good nonetheless featuring vocals by Jon Anderson.
"See You Later"
-A story within a song without having to use lyrics. A piece that gives you a sense of movement then climaxs to a calming revelation. Sort of experimental but doesn't necessarily succeed for me. But I admire the effort.

Quirky, Occasionally Gorgeous Proto Synth-Pop

"See You Later" is in a completely different vein from vastly better-known Vangelis works such as "Opera Sauvage" or "Chariots of Fire". Perhaps only the track "Memories of Green" is widely known, and that mainly because of its inclusion in the "Blade Runner" soundtrack.

"See You Later" was released when synth-pop was freshly emerging as a respectable genre; the album reflects some of those contemporaneous influences. At the same time, it looks both backwards, towards Vangelis's prog-rock "666" and "Earth"-styled roots; and forward, to works like "Direct" and "The City". Perhaps more than on any other album, Vangelis sets loose a quirky sense of humor here, particularly on "Not a Bit, All of It", a frankly surreal piece which may [or may not?] address consumerism and/or the fashion industry.

"Multi-Track Suggestion" is the standout on the record (aside from "Memories of Green", which again is probably familiar to even casual listeners from the "Blade Runner" soundtrack). "Suggestion" gives off hints of Kraftwerk, and perhaps a few other late-1970s/early 80s synth pioneers; but it also radiates a sumptuousness and sensuality which were then, and still are, rarely found in electronic music. Vangelis's gifts for timeless melodies, and his widely-noted integration of acoustic and synthetic textures, was rarely better either before or after "See you Later".

This album would likely annoy or dissapoint someone new to the music of Vangelis. However, if you've already heard all the so-called "classic" Vangelis albums, and find yourself wanting more, this is a great place to start.

Vangelis in A Different Light ?

At first listen, the concept behind this album is difficult to grasp since most of Vangelis' works have little to do with social commentary or global issues. Also, this album is a transition into new territory with hints of jazz and electro-funk. The real gem is the track Memories of Green with it's piano and bleeping-like siren sounds.For all the listener knows the effects could probably be a life support machine chirping away. It sets the mood for a melancholy western-saloon theme in a futuristic world( it almost feels out of place yet offers a tranquil atmosphere against the other compositions). Memories was featured in the sci-fi film cult hit BladeRunner in reference to the replicants in the film with implanted/artificial memories.The social commentary on Not A Bit, All Of It is a quirky look into the excesses of the world of glamour and glitz, consumerism,commercialism, and the media (materialism in Hollywood ?).The rest of the music has an almost half-finished studio feel or outtake (it is not an over-the-top orchestrated album at all).

See You Later feels more like an E.P. (mini-album or "experimental project")! It is also a rare find at most c.d. shops (import). Any Vangelis fan should check this title out...