Search - Vangelis :: Beaubourg (Mlps)

Warning to Die-hard fans!!!!

J. Brook | Colorado United States | 04/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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

Hector Garay | Claremont, CA United States | 12/02/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

What a Beaubourg!

Hector L. Cepeda | Valencia, CA USA | 05/10/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"In the wake of Heaven and Hell, Albedo 0.39, and Spiral, Vangelis fans had absolutely no cause to anticipate the rambling "experimental" noodlings and inane wanderings of Beaubourg. Almost completely absent of any coherent structure or pleasurable dynamics, Beaubourg sounds every bit as if Mr. Papathanassiou had by way of unfortunate mishap super-glued himself to his keyboards, taken a nap with the tape running, then accepted whatever fitful sleep-driven chaos came forth. That dubious (although poetically accurate) imagery aside, Beaubourg may well have been pure contractual obligation; witness that Vangelis has since not repeated Beaubourg's - to be kind - style.



Among the progressive cognoscenti local to me, Beaubourg has become notorious and is now synonymous with any crashing disappointing failure and/or the off-putting, strange, and inaccessible. When, among our small group, we say that such and such album is a Beaubourg, we know exactly what to expect and, therefore, avoid. Indeed, we should thank Mr. Papathanassiou for his unwitting contribution to the lexicon of critique, for the album name alone, compact as it is, conveys so much of what has amounted to so little. Poor little Beaubourg.



An interesting side note: Some years ago, a friend had described a then recent progressive album as being "a Beaubourg", and this to someone of unknown musical interests and leanings. That someone's reaction? Laughter and understanding. Mr. Papathanassiou? Again, thank you."