The Bat-Light Series #4: Vangelis

The Bat-Light Series #4: Vangelis

Across dimensions of tone and texture, Vangelis shines in the bat-light — his soundscapes have had a huge personal impact on me and remain a lasting source of inspiration. A visionary composer and multi-instrumentalist who crafted timeless synth odysseys.

Born Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou in 1943 in Greece, Vangelis was a visionary composer and multi-instrumentalist, celebrated for pioneering electronic and cinematic music. He blended synthesizers with classical influences to create emotional, immersive soundscapes, from the Academy Award–winning score for Chariots of Fire and the iconic soundtrack of Blade Runner to the widely acclaimed music for 1492: Conquest of Paradise. He collaborated with artists such as Demis Roussos and Jon Anderson, and is also known for classic compositions like To the Unknown Man, Spiral, and Alpha. His music transcended genres and inspired countless composers, electronic musicians, and film artists, leaving a lasting mark on contemporary music and culture.

Selected track: Elsewhere — from his 1988 album Direct, which marked a new development in Vangelis' music, as he moved his creative base from Paris to Athens, and it was the first album he recorded in Athens after relocating from London.

#week352025 #vangelis #elsewhere #direct #electronicmusic #synthesizermusic #cinematicmusic