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L'Apocalypse Des Animaux (1972 TV Documentary)

Vangelis - L'Apocalypse Des Animaux (1972 TV Documentary) Audio CD

A fair review of the Vangelis "L'Apocalypse Des Animaux (1972 TV Documentary)" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Vangelis reviews here, or go back to the Vangelis tabs.

Band: Vangelis
Title: L'Apocalypse Des Animaux (1972 TV Documentary)
Rating:

Release Date: 1990-10-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Apocalypse des Animaux [Generique] 2: Petite Fille de la Mer 3: Singe Bleu 4: Mort du Loup 5: Ours Musicien 6: Cr�ation du Monde 7: Mer Recommenc�e

The master painter of electronic musical tapestry.
I phrase it like that' because men don't tear-up' easily. Three tracks on this album cause optical-involuntary-fluid-secretion-syndrome'. It takes a lot. We all know women will cry at the opening of a bank. . . but for us guys, it takes the USS Missouri', Bismarck' and Yamato' teamed-up together' against us on the high-seas' in order to get us to shed a tear.
Having said all that, Le Singe Bleu (track 3), is the 18-inch turret gun of the Yamato'(for me). A very simple and slow electric piano song, with a trumpet on top. That's it. . . two instruments! The song is in the form of a call-and-response' motif; It goes through its birth-stage, starting with the electric piano, then the trumpet harkens out notes in groups of three' as if calling someone who is miles away, on a continent where few people live. The electric piano replies each time a group of three notes sound out, as if to say: Keep trying. . . someone will hear us and respond.

Track two entitled, La Petite Fille De La Mer' is another favorite of mine. Multiple over-tracked electric pianos; one used for the main melody, while others are used as a tapestry-layer to the main theme. A deep-sea Mellotron string sound permeates the song throughout, enhancing the somber mood. One might think Vangelis is using minor chords to inflect the sadness, but La Petite Fille De La Mer' is based primarily in a major key - yet it captures the temporal emptiness all human-beings occasionally have' as we make our way through a lifetime.

Finally, fans of Yes' music might recognize track six from L'Apocalypse Des Animaux', entitled, Creation du Monde' as it was played over the PA system during the Yes' Tales From Topographic Oceans' tour, in 1974. If you have (live) bootlegs' of the Tales' tour, you can hear Jon Anderson' describing the four movements of Tales From Topographic Oceans', while Creation du Monde' is playing in the background over the PA. It's probably the only time you'll ever hear Rick Wakeman' playing supplemental keyboards (though very softly) on a Vangelis song.
This song was perfect for Anderson's monologue about the origin of languages, and the beginnings of musical thought' from the primeval stages of life, through the generations to come. Creation du Monde' is like watching Earth being created by God. An insertion of a melody. . . would destroy it.
.

An Early Vangelis Classic.

While the music was released in 1973, the recording of it actually dates back to 1970. Vangelis's 1973 soundtrack album for the French wildlife documentary "L'Apocalypse Des Animaux" has become one of the best-known known works of his early career. Although there isn't a list of instruments used in the liner notes, the sounds of electric and acoustic piano, Hammond organ, Mellotron, clavinet, harmonium and various percussion as well as trumpet and acoustic guitar can be heard.
The 35 minutes of music can be viewed as a complete whole because there is a certain underlining theme and mood that can be felt throughout the entire album from beginning to end.
The short title track is based on an African style rhythm in 5/4 time and features a dramatic choral style build-up in the middle. This is followed by the melancholy "La Petite Fille De La Mer" which is probably the best known piece off the entire album. A somber electric piano melody is backed by organ and mellotron strings as well as acoustic guitar arpeggios. "Le Singe Bleu" sounds almost like an outtake from Miles Davis's "In A Silent Way" as it is a duet between trumpet and electric piano. There are no credits as to who is playing what in the CD cover and it could be very possible that Vangelis is playing both parts himself. Regardless of who's doing what, this piece is quite a relaxing slice of mood-jazz music that Vangelis really hasn't tackled since. The Spanish-tinged "La Mort Du Loup" follows with its Rodrigo "Aranjuez"-inspired melodies and flamenco-esque acoustic guitar behind a backdrop of lush keyboard sounds. The 1-minute "L'ours Musicien" is a brief jingle with a child-like electric piano melody as well as what sounds like school band percussion and harmonium. This is followed by the epic "Creation Du Monde" which is a 10-minute excursion into atmospheric keyboard textures. The grandiose theme as well as the ambient nature of this piece give a sign of things to come for both Vangelis as well as electronic music in general. Some of Brian Eno's later ambient works would adopt a similar style to this piece. The closing piece "La Mer Recommencee" is similar to the previous piece but adds percussion and cymbal rolls to the echo ethereal keyboard sounds.
Even after its release some 35 years later, "L'Apocalypse Des Animaux" is still one of Vangelis's finest early works. As technology would later advance, so would Vangelis's music. However, his trademark style was already apparent at this early stage in 1970-73. This is music that was and still is way ahead of its time and while some of the keyboard sounds may seem a bit outdated, it is still quite a beautiful album to listen to. .

MUY BUEN DISCO
MEDIANTE AMAZON PUDE COMPRAR ESTE DISCO QUE ES DIFICIL DE ENCONTRARLO
BUEN DISCO.

Excellent Start for Collecting Vangelis' Early Work !
It is light years ahead of it's time for being over 30 years old and has aged tremendously well!. L'Apocalypse Des Animaux is Vangelis' masterpiece recording for a 1973 French ecological/wildlife film documentary by director Henry Rossif. . . Only clocking in at a little over 35 minutes, it is one of the most compelling and captivating soundtracks I have ever heard (and I have heard tons over the years by various artists in various genres)! Much of this musical tapestry is somber, moody, melancholy and atmospheric in nature;The track Le Singe Bleu is a primary example of this with it's beautiful horn/trumpet arrangement done in an almost bluesy-soft jazz-like manner. I call this soundtrack the "soundtrack for the electronic blues". . . This particular track is a precursor to another track called Blade Runner Blues that would be recorded 10 years later for the Harrison Ford Sci-Fi film-noir Blade Runner. The music of L'Apocalypse Des Animaux will take you far away into a journey of the mind's eye and will create some striking mental visuals and evoke feelings of mystery and mood ! This is an excellent start for anyone seeking to compile their collection of Vangelis' projects. It makes one wonder about the fascinating mindset this artist must have been in to create something so ethereal and advanced. While Vangelis is known the world over as the Godfather of New Age or movie-soundtrack electronica, you will hear no cold meaningless blips and outdated synth work. Some of it's structure is almost classical in nature and global/world music sense (particularly the opening track /title track with it's African rhythms). There is much diversity to be enjoyed on this soundtrack. On the downside, when the soundtrack is over it leaves you wanting more---and there probably is a lot more music from the film or score that is not present in this edition or release.

FLYING AWAY WITH IT...
It has beautiful sounds and amazing feeligs. This albumn is an unique masterpiece in the music history. Everytime it rains I listen to this album and it takes me to a place far away. If you are a music lover or you just like melancholic tunes please dont pass it by.

You can see a complete list of all Vangelis discography, or go back to the Vangelis tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.