China (album) 758762 224405208 2008-07-08T18:30:17Z J Milburn Bot 7423137 All Music Guide has now been rebranded to Allmusic {{Infobox Album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums --> | Name = China | Type = [[Album]] | Artist = [[Vangelis]] | Cover = Vangelis_China.jpg | Released = 1979 | Recorded = Nemo Studios, London, 1978 | Genre = [[Electronica]] | Length = 41:17 | Label = [[Polydor]] (LP) POLD 5018 | Producer = Vangelis | Reviews = *[[Allmusic]] {{rating-5|4.5}} [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:4017gjwrj6iv link] | | Last album = ''[[Hypothesis (album)|Hypothesis]]''<br />(1978) | This album = '''''China'''''<br />(1979) | Next album = ''[[Odes (album)|Odes]]''<br />(1979) }} '''''China''''' is a 1979 album by the [[Greece|Greek]] artist [[Vangelis]]. Although he had never been to [[China]], he employed Chinese instruments and compositional styles on this [[concept album]]. ==Track listing== # "Chung Kuo" – 5:31 # "The Long March" – 2:01 # "The Dragon" – 4:13 # "The Plum Blossom" – 2:36 # "The Tao of Love" – 2:44 # "The Little Fete" – 3:01 # "Yin & Yang" – 5:48 # "Himalaya" – 10:53 # "Summit" – 4:30 ==Instruments and style== Vangelis plays [[synthesizer]]s, [[drum machine]]s, [[electric piano]] ("The Tao of Love"), [[piano]] ("The Great March", "The Plum Blossom", "Himalaya"), various Chinese flutes and plucked string instruments. Featured artists are Michel Ripoche (violin on "The Plum Blossom") and Yeung Hak-Fun and Koon Fook Man (narrative on "The Little Fete"). ''China'' was engineered by Keith Spencer-Allen, Raphael Preston, and Andy Hendriksen, and the album sleeve was designed by Vangelis himself. The album was conceived during a very active period in Vangelis' recording career, during which he explored the possibilities of electro-acoustic composing. Vangelis employs his synthesizer arsenal to the fullest, generating sound effects (steam locomotive on "Chung Kuo") and various Chinese-sounding patches on all tracks. Concepts used range from classical Chinese poetry ("The Little Fete" is a poem by the 8th century [[Li Po]], translated by [[J.C. Cooper]]) to revolutionary history of the [[People's Republic of China]] ("The Long March"). ==References== * [http://www.vangelismovements.com/china.htm 'Vangelis Movements' webpage entry] * [http://www.koert.com/data/albums3.htm 'Elsewhere' webpage entry] * [http://www.engelen.demon.nl/china.htm Lyrics] {{Vangelis}} [[Category:Vangelis albums]] [[Category:1979 albums]] [[ja:チャイナ (ヴァンゲリス)]]