A Wonderful Blend Of Magic-Like Sound

This 9-track cd features some of the best New Age music that I have ever heard. Although it is probably unintentional, each of the songs seems to flow like a story. Some of the songs do flow together, like 'Voices' flows into 'Echos' or 'Messages' flows into 'Dream In An Open Place'.

The storyline that I got from the music was something along the lines of a struggle in a community (a famine, or a drought) and what is done to cope with the problem.

Although the cd is not narrated it is not difficult for someone to imagine this music as the score for a movie. I don't know if it has ever been done with this album, but if it has been or will be, there won't be any complaining from me.

Different...

Although the opening title track is a bit derivative, Voices, as an album, tends to get somewhat deeper (and more interesting) the further in you go. The most provocative tracks include "Come to Me," "Ask the Mountains," and "Losing Sleep (Still, My Heart)," which feature guest vocals by the likes of Caroline Lavelle, Stina Nordenstam, and Paul Young, respectively.

Overall, this is a somewhat unusual album, melodically, and though it's perhaps not as readily accessible as Direct nor as prolific as Mythodea, Voices has a voice of its own.

new new age

I don't particularly care for new age music as stand alone entertainment. I find it works extremely well as background music for films, especially futuristic films, but sorely lacks interest as real stand alone music.

After listening to Voices for a few years I've come to the conclusion that it is the only new age thing I've heard that is successful because Vangelis has found a way to find accompaniment within the music itself. What it is accompanying I haven't the slightest idea but it certainly isn't standing alone as simple new age music. Maybe its the voices or the organic rhythms, I don't know.