666 - APHRODITE'S CHILD***

The System/Babylon/Loud Loud Loud/The Four Horsemen/The Lamb/The Seventh Seal/Aegean Sea/ Seven Bowls/The Wakening Beast/Lament/The Marching Beast/The Battle Of The Locusts/Do It/ Tribulation/The Beast/Ofis/Seven Trumpets/Altamont/The Wedding Of The Lamb/The Capture Of The Beast/OO/Hic Et Nunc/All The Seats Were Occupied/The Break

Aphrodite’s Child were a Greek progressive band that launched the careers of Vangelis and Demis Roussos. The double album 666 is considered their most influential and is based on the Book of Revelation.

“666 is a stunning album full of amazing songs built around its centrepiece and masterwork, the astounding The Four Horsemen with its wonderful lyrical imagery and absolutely astounding guitar coda-lightning storm.”

“With regard to the claim that the album is all over the map musically speaking, what some see as a weakness I see as a strength. Tons of eclecticism and diversity to be found here; weird Middle Eastern jazz ditties, hard rock stompers, nearly straightforward pop ballads, ambient interludes, five minutes of moaning, and a twenty minute no-holds-barred tripped out jam recapitulating all of the above.”

“The strength of 666 is based more in individual songs than as a whole coherent album. The progressive element of the music is found more in the structure, some instrumental jam sections and soundscape atmospheres, than in overly complex song structures, strange time signatures or virtuoso playing.”

“666 is an album seemingly over-burdened with ideas. Not all of them are great, but when they work, such as on the short heavy-metal blister-bursts of The Battle Of The Locusts and Do It, you can only admire Vangelis’ determination to experiment with a successful formula and the band’s combined technical ability.”

“There are some very innovative sounds here. This album was definitely ahead of its time, with all the elements of what later led to the 70s progressive rock movement being put to the test, most notably the concept album and instrumental virtuosity on display in long jams, not to mention a few other elements such as clever and unusual combinations of Eastern/Western instruments and the occasional spoken interlude.”

“666 is a concept double album about the Book of Revelation, so you'd expect the music to be pretty dark and noisy. In truth the album usually sounds like good natured 70s prog, albeit with some creepy psychedelic ambience. Influenced by jazz and psychedelia, the large palette of instruments was used splendidly throughout.”