A fantastic album to travel mentally and physically
LAMSON3@aol.com | Los Angeles, USA | 08/28/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am a faithful Vangelis fan. I think he is a real genius.As a classical musician myself,I am used to analyse deeply composer's music and for years and years, this album brought me peace and recomfort in difficult moments. It allowed me to meditate, travel in big spaces without leaving my room, it helped me appreciate moments that I spent in fantastic places around the world (really leaving my room,this time)..I strongly recommand anyone to take the time to discover this masterpiece."
H Y P N O T I C
Second Attention | England | 07/11/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The cycle of nature could only really be represented musically by Vangelis. The whole piece invites you in to a journey through atmospheric conditions. You see insects, you see sky, you see heavy thunder clouds, you feel rain bouncing of leaves and soil. A completely mesmerising and hypnotic, sonic landscape. I give it 4 stars because I feel it isn't one of vangelis' most accessible works. It needs time and patience. You will be rewarded!"
Original and Inspiring
Shaw N. Gynan | Bellingham, WA USA | 01/07/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have read all the reviews, and all I can add is that among the Vanglis CD releases, this is a special event. Vangelis, as I have mentioned elsewhere in reviews of his work, has developed a musical vocabulary and grammar, certain instruments and melodies that he tends to weave in and out of compositions throughout his career. These are really quite wonderful, and I am a confirmed fan, but Soil Festivities is deep, close to the level of Beaubourg and Invisible Connections, and yet somehow more accessible.
The jazzy calliope-like ambience that he creates, with a background of rain and storm, is wistful, gentle, insistent, loving, occasionally obtrusive, but mostly calming and delightful.
I can think of nothing that even begins to approach the originality and attractiveness of this musical accomplishment."
Long time searching for this cd.
Kevin Pryor | Hudson New York | 06/22/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first purchased this cd back in 90 unfortunately it was lost due to theft and I'll tell you I was not a happy camper. But I have to admit I was impressed back then and still am very much so today. It is the most powerful example of music that I can say I've heard in my life and I do miss it greatly. I first heard it one night and it reached every fiber of my being and then some. I am very choosey when it comes to the hugh assortment of music that is for the taking.Soil Festivites is a rare jewel in the new age world of powerful music in my book, Venglis has shown his genious ahead of time and has continued to impress one very picky music listener.As to the five stars rating well that's the max that has been set, I feel it's higher then five stars but it's this message that counts at this point.This music ( cd ) is amazing and I look foreward to it's return to my collection.I encourage anyone who is curious about this cd, get it you'll love it. and then some."
This is Vangelis at his BEST!
Kevin Pryor | 12/15/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I originally owned this as an LP when it first came out in 1984. As a teenager I was in love with Vangelis' music and this quickly became one of my favorites & I still think it's one of his very best, and also most underrated albums (along with Mask, which was released one year later). This album is very melodic, though there are also some very dramatic points too. This is not what you would call "new age" music. This is one of his most "symphonic" albums (the opposite end of the spectrum from say, "Albedo 0.39"). Great to listen to on a rainy day needless to say! One peculiar flaw is the CD track listing: The original LP lists a total of six movements. The CD lists 5 movements, but you can visibly see that it is a typo: Movement 5 has a comma but no following movement! How that happened I don't know, but it led the CD manufacturer to take the fifth and sixth movements and place them onto one track. The listener can easily identify the division between the last two movements though. It's just odd.If you really like Vangelis, this disc is a must. Vangelis has yet to top himself with this album!"