Reprise: 1990-1999 [Bonus Track]

1	Bon Voyage 2:15
2	Dreams of Surf 2:39
3	Opening 0:56
4	Conquest of Paradise 4:42
5	Monastery of la Rabida 3:46
6	Come to Me 4:22
7	Light and Shadow 3:48
8	Fields of Coral 3:40
9	Movement 5 3:36
10	Movement 6 4:47
11	West Across the Ocean Sea 2:52
12	Theme From Bitter Moon 3:40
13	Rachel's Song 4:28
14	Movement 4 6:25
15	Psalmus Ode 4:44
16	Dawn 4:37
17	Prelude 4:50

Barnes & Noble

REPRISE offers a decade's worth of Vangelis, but this glorious retrospective is more than just a sampler of soundtracks. Most listeners know Vangelis's inspiring soundtrack to CHARIOTS OF FIRE. But while that music is not in the scope of this recording, those elements that made CHARIOTS so appealing -- the sounds of surf, starlight, ethereal choirs, and dramatic rhapsodies -- are all here. REPRISE begins with "Bon Voyage" from OCEANIC, evoking the sound of waves lapping the shore before the orchestra swells dreamily like sails catching the wind. "Dreams of Surf" continues the voyage with a breathless piano solo backed by an angelic choir and harp. This celestial soundscape moves seamlessly into the ominously beautiful procession of the conquistadors from 1492. Other choral segments add religious tension to this album, including a new piece, "Psalmus Ode" (the theme from "The Plague"). Other vocal highlights include "Come to Me" from VOICES, a moving vocalise from the director's cut of BLADERUNNER, and a Wagnerian showstopper by soprano Montserrat Caballe from EL GRECO. The newly released "Theme from Bitter Moon" and luminous promise of "Dawn" from THE CITY round out the album. On every track, Vangelis seems to dip into the deep recesses of the soul to find spiritual triumph. Carol Wright

All Music Guide

One of the most interesting facets of Vangelis' music is the way in which it has re-formed and remodeled itself throughout each decade without losing its resilience or overall charm. Whether considering his rudimentary keyboard work from the '70s, his numerous motion picture scores of the '80s, or his stylish theme-based material of the '90s, Vangelis managed to keep his atmospheric pastiches from sounding redundant by giving each of his albums a unique persona that never imitated or borrowed from other pieces. Best Of covers some of his most appealing work from the years 1990 to 1999, making for one of the most accommodating routes in which to explore this era of his music. For the most part, Vangelis focused closely on classically oriented textures and softer, gentler keyboard applications in this period, but his skills at creating accurate moods and imagery to accompany the albums' concepts were still as faultless as ever. Some of the most moving tracks stem from 1990's The City, 1992's 1492: Conquest of Paradise, and 1996's Oceanic albums. Although these tracks are removed from their conceptual domain, the beauty and climate of their themes can still be appreciated. Songs like "Bon Voyage," "Dreams of Surf," and "Fields of Coral" from Oceanic paint a vivid picture of the water through some light but rather telling keyboard extensions, while the material from 1492 is a little more stirring and dynamic since it represents the spirit and perseverance of the newcomers setting sail across the sea. The albums themselves should be heard in their entirety in order to fully grasp the effectiveness of Vangelis' musical intentions, but the tracks on Best Of are still worth owning, especially for those who want to start off with just a taste of his '90s material. Mike DeGagne