Vangelis is a magical beast, a creator of space beats, psychedelic vibrance and dystopic futures. He is a former progressive rocker, who found his way to godhood by wielding the all-mighty synthesizer. Bearded, and often seen peering from behind a distinguished pair of glasses, the former band mate of the 70's group, Aphrodite's Child, has a career that spans fifty plus years, and is credited with influencing the modern electronic music circuit.
His work as a film score composer is massive. He created the atmospheric, dark and melancholic background of the iconic Blade Runner; won awards for the music behind the film, Chariots of Fire; and is responsible for the fantastical space operas behind Carl Sagan's miniseries Cosmos.
Vangelis is able to communicate with his music, to incite visions of bliss, grandeur and loss. He uses his music to tell stories, enriching the cinematic experience with the trills, beeps and ebb of his musical equipment. His work on Blade Runner especially illustrates his talent, as the film's music mirrors that world's filthy, dystopic and richly violent nature. There is also a level of surrealisms present in Vangelis work, which might be a result of his experiences in the 70's and 80's. Though he claims to have been sober and drug free during that era, the funkiness that is sometimes exhibited in his work definitely has a psychedelic feel to it. Just check out the soundtrack to Blade Runner, or his album, Hypothesis. Bow down electronic music lovers. Vangelis is magic.
No comments:
Post a Comment