|
|
This is an unusual interpretation because this album doesn't carry the Vangelis name but it is always associated with him. This was the last album of Vangelis' group, Aphrodite's Child and the album which showed off Vangelis' synthesizer and producing techniques. This album, released in Europe in 1971, would become a pioneer of the progressive rock (the same genre as ELP, Yes, Genesis, etc. belong to) movement. When hearing this album, you can make that connection with other progressive rock albums like it. It would also emerge in a different form, thanks to Michael Cretu and his ENIGMA project (found in the first album, MCMXC a.D.).
[1] THE SYSTEM
It is bascially twenty-five seconds of the same thing... "We've got the system to fuck the system" which was based on a book. Costas Ferris, the lyricist of Aphrodite's Child, will later recount that "How can you get a system to fuck another?"
[2] BABYLON
The song reminds me (don't ask me why) of a Who song, maybe of something of the guitars. You hear this constant cheering and shouting which could illustrate the world crowd listening to the message unfold. Babylon, according to Revelation, symbolizes Rome and symbolizes God's revenge on those who are sinful, deceitful and those that welcome it (remember the "Great Whore?"). Read Revelation 18:1-24.
[3] LOUD, LOUD, LOUD
This song is the same two chords over and over again. The song however contains a poem which describes a kind of modern reaction to the Apocalypse and the Second Coming of Christ. Of course, we've grown beyond lusts of gold and land. Now, it would be a complete stop of civilization and human behavior. What a sight see...
[4] THE FOUR HORSEMEN
Dust off your Bible and flip to Revelation 6:1-8. The Lamb (symbolizing Christ) breaks the first four seals of the book. The first horse (white) held a bow and symbolized war. The second horse (red) held a sword and symbolized massive killing. The third horse (black) held a balance and symbolized famine. The fourth horse (green) was accompaying Hades and symbolizes disease. Obviously, the horses are rampaging and reaking havoc on Earth.
[5] THE LAMB
This song refers to the beginning of the Apocalyptic story when heaven is celebrating the greatness of the Lamb with incense, praises, hymns and respect to the wounded creature (look for and read Revelation 4:1 through 5:14). This song reminds me of "Sunny Earth" and "Ritual" from Vangelis' solo album Earth, which he did after this album.
[6] THE SEVENTH SEAL
This is part is when the last three seals are broken (Revelation 6:9-8:1). The breaking of the fifth seal was the resurrecting of the martyrs and the presenting of the white robes. The sixth seal caused a great earthquake, a blacken sun, a bloody moon and falling stars. Despite the catasrophes, the people were able to shout praises and ask the question "How much longer will we suffer from hunger? How much longer will we suffer from thirst? (Costas Ferris)" Then, the seventh seal was broken and silence reigned... (BTW, the last excerpt was taken by Michael Cretu and used in the song "Back to the Rivers of Belief").
[7] AEGIAN SEA
This one is according to the perception up in heaven. In Revelation, the company of heaven were in awe of the power of God. The Lamb recognized those in the white robes and spared them in their celebration mood (depsite the fact that hell appeared to reign). The Lamb replied to the cries for help by saying, "Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. (Revelation 7:17)"
[8] SEVEN BOWLS
The "Seven Bowls of God's Wrath" doesn't come until later in the story. This was after the birth of the Beasts and way after the breaking of the seventh seal. The bowls, filled with God's wrath, were poured by seven angels. The first bowl was poured on the Earth and gave painful sores on those who worshipped the Beast. The second bowl was poured on the sea and transformed it into blood, killing every living thing. The third bowl was poured on the rivers and transformed it into blood. The fourth bowl was poured on the sun and the sun intensifed its heat and scorched people. The fifth bowl was poured on the Beast's throne and his kingdom was darkened. The sxth bowl was poured on the Euphrates River and began the Battle of Armaggedon. The seventh bowl was poured on the air and turned it into a wild weather machine, destroying everything. The followers of the Beast cursed and blamed God during the entire round. (This was according to Revelation 16:1-21, not Ferris' lyrics). Cretu used the entire song in the song "The Voice and the Snake" in MCMXC a.D.
[9] THE WAKENING BEAST
This song is sort of a favorite because it creates a feeling of uncertainity and weirdness, similiar to Invisible Connections. In the story of the Apocalypse, the Beasts from the sea and earth were awakening and rising from their domain in Hell. The Beasts were hideous in its entirety and you can happily read about it in Revelation 13:1-18. Revelation 13:18 says "If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666."
[9] LAMENT
Obviously, there was no indinctation of "lamenting" during Revelation. I'm sure that when Judgement Day is unleashing and all Hell breaks loose for the last time, the human race will mourn for those lost. We will cry and wallow in despair like Dante before them, and Virgil will come along and wakes us up from sympathizing with the sinners.
[10] THE MARCHING BEAST
I can imagine a parade occuring. (Of course, now you will be convinced that the Beast was no other than Adolf Hitler). The Beasts were out there conquering the earth and swiping a couple of lost souls for their taking and demise. Not something to look forward to...
[11] THE BATTLE OF THE LOCUSTS
Now, we have to go back a couple of chapters. During the trumpet time, the fifth trumpet was sounded and a swarm of locusts appeared from the Abyss (Revelation 9:1-12). The locusts would surround them death but death wouldn't be a liberation from the continuing trial. The funny thing about these locusts were that they were named Abaddon (Hebrew) and Apollyon (Greek) which means Destroyer and eludes to the Roman Emperor. I like this song because it sounds like and visualizes locusts (thanks to the guitars).
[12] DO IT
I don't get the purpose of this song or whether it has to do with the story of the Apocalypse. I like this one because it does the same thing like in the previous track.
[13] TRIBULATION
This sounds more like a jazz jam session than an allusion to the Apocalypse. Actually, it can refer to the woes and time of trial that humanity will later endure.
[13] THE BEAST
When hearing this song, you think "What?" Well, think about it... would you want to challenge a huge, nasty and blasphemous creature? I wouldn't want the job but... if God calls upon the service on me... well, put on that armor and do what I'm told. The song itself sounds pretty good and catchy.
[14] OFIS
The Greek basically says "Come out serpent and if you don't, I'll come out you!" This was based on a modern Greek play. (End of Disc 1)
[15] SEVEN TRUMPETS
(Beginning of Disc 2) This one I like because it sounds like a sports announcer. He is announcing the trumpets which will further destroy the Earth before the rising of the Beasts.
[16] ALTAMONT
It means "high mountain." This refers to the Apocalyptic sights on a mountain top (possibly alluding to the Mount Olympus of the Greek myths). This was the image of the past, present and future, as seen through the eyes of mankind.
[17] THE WEDDING OF THE LAMB
This one I like because of its festive nature. It is almost like the parties and celebrations they have in Greece. The "wedding of the Lamb (Christ)" refers to the appearance of the New Jerusalem after the complete destruction of the old heavens and the birth of the new. The New Jerusalem, as described in Revelation 21:10-27, is beautiful, dazzling and pure like what a wife is (and should be). Beautiful picture, eh?
[18] THE CAPTURE OF THE BEAST
This one refers to the doom of Satan, his imprisonment for a millennium and his final demise. Obviously, this is a sign of final triumph over Lucifer and everything he stands for. This can all be found in Revelation 19:20-20:10.
[19] INFINITY
This piece is very simple. Irene Papas (Greek actress and singer) repeats the same phrase which is "I was, I am, I am to come." While she is saying it, she goes through orgasm first and then childbirth. This song could symbolize (in my opinion) two things and it all depends on whether you look at the book or the song title. If you look at the book, you think of the birth of the male child that the dragon is trying to swipe (Revelation 12:1-17). If you look at the song title, you think of the cyclic view of humanity... we are born, we live and we die endlessly. The actual meaning is that Evil twisted the words of the Good (past, present and future), changes it into first person (or Ego) and tries to make love to itself to form another Ego. Yuck!
[20] HIC AND NUNC
This is obviously bad Latin and translates to "Here and Now" (if they wanted to use Latin, it will be "Hic et Nunc"). After careful thought, I came to this conclusion. The "Hic and Nunc" refers to the call of God on His people to respond. The person is asking if this is for real and should it be obeyed (loyalty test). Oh, well... that's just my interpretation.
[21] ALL THE SEATS WERE OCCUPIED
This is a work of Vangelis and the reason why I decided to do an interpretation on this album. It is a work of not only a composer but also a producer. Through the entire nineteen or so minutes, you hear familiar songs in this album echoing and you hear nice little interludes popping up everywhere. The part worth mentioning is during the last ninety seconds. A voice (sampled from a BBC broadcast) says "ALL THE SEATS WERE OCCUPIED" and then you have a choatic outburst of noise. You can visualize a huge explosion or a series of natural disasters occuring before you as the world melts away.
[22] BREAK
This song is the final word from the Lamb. Although Christ doesn't say it like that, he says that "Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy. (Revelation 22:11)" I think that this song, lyrically and musically, sums up the entire album in a way that I can't really explain! Oh, well... He is coming soon!
