Search - Vangelis :: Albedo 0.39 (Shm)

Has theme song from Death of a Princess / Cosmos

whatever | USA | 04/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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"

Symphonic grandeur

Jeffrey J.Park | Massachusetts, USA | 11/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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)."