The City (Vangelis album)

The City is a 1990 album by the Greek artist Vangelis. Reportedly, it was produced entirely in a Rome hotel room, where Vangelis was staying to witness the filming of the Roman Polanski film Bitter Moon. It can be seen as a concept album, citing concepts from urban life and alluding to the big city atmosphere. The album peaked at #3 on the Billboard New Age Albums chart.[2]

The City
Studio album by
Vangelis
ReleasedFebruary 14, 1990
RecordedHotel de la Ville, Rome and Mega Studios, Paris
GenreElectronica, new age
Length43:08
LabelEast West (Europe) / Atlantic (USA)
ProducerVangelis
Vangelis chronology
Themes
(1989)		 The City
(1990)		 1492: Conquest of Paradise
(1992)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

Track listing

All tracks written by Vangelis.

  1. "Dawn" – 4:16
  2. "Morning Papers" – 3:55
  3. "Nerve Centre" – 5:30
  4. "Side Streets" – 4:12
  5. "Good to See You" – 6:51
  6. "Twilight" – 4:57
  7. "Red Lights" – 3:55
  8. "Procession" – 9:33

Instruments

Vangelis plays all instruments: exclusively synthesizers and drum machines. Vocals are by various guest artists, with narrative by Roman Polanski and Emmanuelle Seigner.

Style

Vangelis employs a wide range of styles, from jazz (2) and rock (3) to new age (5, 6). Instrument patches are all synthesizer-based, but sound very convincing (trumpet on 1, guitar on 3, cello on 8).

Although The City is the first album after Direct (1988), there is no mention of the "Direct series" as discussed in that album's sleeve notes. It can also not be easily linked with his subsequent work, such as the 1492: Conquest of Paradise soundtrack. Vangelis would later compose the soundtrack for Polanski's film Bitter Moon.

References
  1. Connolly, Dave. "Review: The City". Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  2. "Vangelis Chart History - New Age Albums chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
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