Spiral (Vangelis album)

Spiral is a studio album by the Greek electronic composer Vangelis, released in December 1977.[1] It was the third album produced by Vangelis in Nemo Studios, London, which was his creative base until the late 1980s.[2] For the track "To the Unknown Man" Vangelis received the Midem International Instrumental award in 1978.[3]

Spiral
Studio album by Vangelis
Released	December 1977[1]
Recorded	Nemo Studios, London, 1977
Genre	Electronica
Length	39:25
Label	RCA (Original) Esoteric Recordings (2013)
Producer	Vangelis
Vangelis chronology
La Fête sauvage (1976) Spiral (1977) Beaubourg (1978)

Overview

It is a concept album, thematically inspired by ancient Tao philosophy, exploring the nature of the universe moving in spirals.[3][4] On the front cover is cited Tao Te Ching: "Going on means going far - Going far means returning", while the sleeve notes state that the track "Dervish D" is "inspired by the Dervish dancer who by his whirling realises the spiralling of the universe".[5][6]

It was a less known and acclaimed album than the two which preceded in the 1970s, Heaven and Hell (1975) and Albedo 0.39 (1976).[2]

Release

The album reached #38 on the Dutch album charts in 1978.[7]

In 2011 the album was included along Heaven and Hell and Albedo 0.39 in a 3-CD box set series "Original Album Classics" by Sony, RCA and Legacy Recordings.[8] In 2013 the album was released in a remastered and reissued digipak edition by Esoteric Recordings. It includes a bonus track, previously never issued on CD, "To the Unknown Man (II)", which was released as a B-side of the single "To the Unknown Man" in 1977.[9]

Instrumentation

The album is entirely instrumental, apart from Vangelis' processed vocals on "Ballad". Vangelis plays synthesizer, sequencers, electric piano, electronic organ, harmonica, brass, timpani, percussion. It is the first album on which Vangelis used the Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer, on which he would come to rely heavily in subsequent work, and is the most sequencer-based album of his career.[5]

Composition

It is characterized by melodic simplicity, distinctivity of each track and their directness. The "Spiral" builds on an arpeggio chord, teased out with rhythmic delays, while "Ballad"'s building on an electric organ, harmonica, with synthesised vocal motif, with climax on brass and timpani, then losing steam and returning to the tranquility of the harmonica. "Dervish D" is a robotic funk, a sequencer arpeggio base, percussion and a synthesizer melody.

"3+3"'s agitated sequencer pattern fools the ear into anticipating a proto-rave mind melt, when in fact it summarily becomes overlaid by a languid 6/8 waltz. However, "To The Unknown Man" , which provides the album's most enduring track, is divided in three parts; in first a slow sequence pulse and a simple guitar-like melody, in second appear strings, and in third melody disappears and is replaced by a rock beat and organ chords[2][5]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[6]

Mike DeGagne of Allmusic noted that the album lacks the "atmospheric" from the previous two albums. He goes on to say that "although the structures and the overall dynamics of the pieces are less complicated and less sophisticated, Spiral's keyboard utilization is still extremely effectual", and "musical movement does seem to transgress toward full, complete soundscapes", especially in "To the Unknown Man".[6] Henri Stirk from Background Magazine rated the 2013 edition by Esoteric Recordings 4/5 stars.[5]

Track listing

All songs composed and arranged by Vangelis.
Side A:

1. "Spiral" – 6:55
2. "Ballad" – 8:27
3. "Dervish D" – 5:21

Side B:

1. "To the Unknown Man" – 9:01
2. "3+3" – 9:43

Personnel

• Vangelis — synthesizers, keyboards and other instruments

Production

• Vangelis — producer, arranger, design
• Keith Spencer-Allen — engineer
• Marlis Duncklau — assistant Engineer
• Michael Hudson — graphic design
• Jack Wood — art direction
• Michael Plomer, Veronique Skawinska — photography

Appearances in other media

• "To The Unknown Man" was used in the 1977 Royal Air Force Careers Information film "12 Sqn" along with other clips from the Spiral album, showing 12 Sqn Buccaneers partaking in NATO Exercise Opengate off Gibraltar.
• "To The Unknown Man" was used in the BBC coverage of the 1979 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, in Sheffield.[2]

References

1. "Vangelis | A musical journey | (Page 2 of 15) | Vangelis Papathanassiou". NemoStudios.co.uk. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2019. In December 1977, the follow-up album ‘Spiral’ was released.
2. "Rediscover 'Spiral'". uDiscover. November 26, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
3. "Nemo: Vangelis - chapter 2". nemostudios.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
4. Dali De Clair (June 1979). "An interview with Vangelis". Retrieved August 20, 2016.
5. "Vangelis - Background Magazine Review". Background Magazine. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
6. DeGagne, Mike. Spiral at AllMusic
7. "Vangelis - Spiral". DutchCharts. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
8. "Vangelis – Heaven And Hell / Albedo 0.39 / Spiral". Discogs. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
9. "Spiral (Official Vangelis Supervised Remastered Edition)". Cherry Red Records. Retrieved August 20, 2016.