Vangelis "The Dragon"

Greek composer/synthesist Vangelis Papathanassiou, who first emerged in the psychedelic rock group Aphrodite's Child with Demis Roussos and others before going solo, recorded this album in London in 1971. The title track, side A, is not the harmonic synthesizer sound one associates with Vangelis, but rather an acoustic guitar strummed over an indigenous percussion beat with elements of traditional Greek music that have more in common with Arab folk music, a swelling bass and distorted fuzz guitar. The first track is an organic psychedelic ambient with a beautiful acoustic sound, while the second track is a speedy psychedelic jazz rock track. The sound quality is thick and crisp.