Perfect companion to an excellent film. Hauntingly sensuous.

Robert Ruiz

If you are like me you have always mourned that Vangelis did not come out with this sooner. The non-vangelis orchestral version of this paled in comparison. Not all tracks sound like they belong, but for the fanatic (me) the disk is worth it just for the true version of "Tales of the Future".

I was not intending to write anything while reading the reviews of Jarre and Vangelis albums on this site, although it was interesting to see that so many share almost exactly the same views as myself.

And then I saw one review for "Bladerunner", and something occured to me. Maybe that reviewer did not hear the album. I am not saying he or she did not put the disc in the system and pressed play.

Both Jarre and Vangelis have outstanding recording techniques, and their respective attention to audiophile needs is without comparison. I have heard all of his work on very poor systems and the best you can get.

I wonder therefore how many people have had the opportunity to listen to the music that actually exists on the discs they have. I am very sure that very few have heard the shear depth of bass that exists in "Main Titles" and "Tear in the Rain". I am not talking volume. I emphasise DEPTH and I know you will not hear this on anything mediocre. I love cranking the volume up when I play these tracks.

For the first track "the rumbling" really kicks in part way through. It is so deep on my system it causes my house to shake. It is like an ocean liner being dragged across my living room floor. This is not an exaggeration, and there are other "artists" who have tried to copy this at times, but soooooooo poorly. You will not have heard half the music if you system cannot reproduce this. It underpins the entire track as it ebbs to and fro, from back to front in the sound stage.

The bass in "Tears in the rain" is unbelievably surprising the first time you hear it (or rather, when it messes with your guts). You just do not expect something so potent to emerge out of something so delicate and poetic. Perfect.

My friends who heard these tracks for the first time at first mocked my likes in music because of the name of the artist, who they had never heard of. Then as the first rumbles started they shut up and listened. Then they begged to hear it all again and to crank the volume up even more. They then bought it a few days later.

If you do not have the luxury of high-end Hi-Fi, go to someone who has and play the disc there. You will hear probably the most tangible, visceral, and evocative pieces of music ever woven together. Do not rely on a midi system, and NEVER use head phones for this. There are only two recordings I know of that demand these requirements.

Take Movement I of "Soil Festivities" with you when you go!