Vangelis – Soil Festivities

Why would this need to be remastered? The original CD / LP sound fantastic, with an incredible dynamic range.

What does this remaster bring to the table, exactly?

As with other Polydor releases of Vangelis' work, this is extremely quiet, no surface noise, loud but so clean and dynamic range is astounding. The synthesizers come across deep, clear and chunky, especially in the more bass heavy and percusive sections, never feel saturated or harsh.
This is a work that has to be listened to many times and it gets better, the standout is the first movment, which is about 15 minutes long. Hypnotic, lots of rythmic redundancy, but a canvas in which so many melodically playful gestures are drawn, this 1984 polydor pressing is the very best way to experience this.
Ex++ copies are not hard to find as of this writing.

Not really outstanding, but somehow enjoyable, relaxing and melodic, my favorite track is "Movement 4".

An absolute masterwork. The compositions are balanced, evocative, playful and (especially in the fifth movement) like conjuring aural candifloss from the raw notes on the keyboards. Vangelis was at his peak, Bladerunner, Chariots Of Fire, Heaven And Hell etc may be more famous but here I feel the man gets closest to 'squaring the circle' between the humble subject matter (microscopic fauna) and his prodigious talent. At no point does this sound overblown or underplayed. A progressive electronic melodic ambient dream that still delights me thirty years (plus) on.
PS: Great for playing during a thunderstorm, as I just have tonight....

One of my favorite Vangelis albums, a true gem, especially Parts 1, 2 and 4 !