Mythodea: Music for the NASA Mission -- 2001 Mars Odyssey

AMG Review of Mythodea: Music for the NASA Mission -- 2001 Mars Odyssey

Chris Nickson
All Music Guide

Mythodea is subtitled "Music for the NASA Mission: 2001 Mars Odyssey," and it's certainly an epic work. If its aspirations were any higher, it wouldn't even need NASA to break earth's gravity. In essence, it's the focus of Vangelis' symphonic ambitions, utilizing not only an orchestra, but two sopranos and a full choir to go alongside his banks of keyboards. With an everything-plus-the-kitchen-sink attitude, "Movement 1" shows its Mars intentions by borrowing the 5/4 rhythm from Holst's "Mars" and overlaying it with symphonic stabs of melody and voices galore. Synth space noises, pomp, and afew circumstances.