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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quirky, Occasionally Gorgeous Proto Synth-Pop, March 31, 2004
By A Customer
"See You Later" is in a completely different vein from vastly better-known Vangelis works such as "Opera Sauvage" or "Chariots of Fire". Perhaps only the track "Memories of Green" is widely known, and that mainly because of its inclusion in the "Blade Runner" soundtrack. "See You Later" was released when synth-pop was freshly emerging as a respectable genre; the album reflects some of those contemporaneous influences. At the same time, it looks both backwards, towards Vangelis's prog-rock "666" and "Earth"-styled roots; and forward, to works like "Direct" and "The City". Perhaps more than on any other album, Vangelis sets loose a quirky sense of humor here, particularly on "Not a Bit, All of It", a frankly surreal piece which may [or may not?] address consumerism and/or the fashion industry. "Multi-Track Suggestion" is the standout on the record (aside from "Memories of Green", which again is probably familiar to even casual listeners from the "Blade Runner" soundtrack). "Suggestion" gives off hints of Kraftwerk, and perhaps a few other late-1970s/early 80s synth pioneers; but it also radiates a sumptuousness and sensuality which were then, and still are, rarely found in electronic music. Vangelis's gifts for timeless melodies, and his widely-noted integration of acoustic and synthetic textures, was rarely better either before or after "See you Later". This album would likely annoy or dissapoint someone new to the music of Vangelis. However, if you've already heard all the so-called "classic" Vangelis albums, and find yourself wanting more, this is a great place to start.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Overlooked gem, July 2, 2000
Those fans of Vangelis who are more familiar - or at least more comfortable - with some of his lush film scores or the gentler thematic suites (Voices, Oceanic, El Greko) might be surprised to find the content on this album. In some ways it bridges the early Vangelis, a founding member of the European supergroup Aphrodite's Child who did concept albums like 666, and the Vangelis of the late eighties who produced the amazing improvisatorial "Direct", and pounding electropop rhythms in the Blade Runner end titles. His side career of composer/producer for a huge range of European pop stars is perhaps also a pointer to this album, a largely unbuttoned and humorous view of a dystopic (dyspeptic?:-) ) future. A highlight of the album is the original version of the very very very beautiful piano piece "Memories of Green". Supposedly director Ridley Scott's favourite piece of music - he used it in "Someone to watch over me" and "Blade Runner." None of the other pieces are collected elsewhere, and should be sampled for informing further discoveries of Vangelis' 35+ year career at the forefront of musical discovery.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Vangelis in A Different Light ?, September 30, 2000
At first listen, the concept behind this album is difficult to grasp since most of Vangelis' works have little to do with social commentary or global issues. Also, this album is a transition into new territory with hints of jazz and electro-funk. The real gem is the track Memories of Green with it's piano and bleeping-like siren sounds.For all the listener knows the effects could probably be a life support machine chirping away. It sets the mood for a melancholy western-saloon theme in a futuristic world( it almost feels out of place yet offers a tranquil atmosphere against the other compositions). Memories was featured in the sci-fi film cult hit BladeRunner in reference to the replicants in the film with implanted/artificial memories.The social commentary on Not A Bit, All Of It is a quirky look into the excesses of the world of glamour and glitz, consumerism,commercialism, and the media (materialism in Hollywood ?).The rest of the music has an almost half-finished studio feel or outtake (it is not an over-the-top orchestrated album at all). See You Later feels more like an E.P. (mini-album or "experimental project")! It is also a rare find at most c.d. shops (import). Any Vangelis fan should check this title out...
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