Ad astra, Vangelis

Greek composer and synthesizer wizard Vangelis dies, aged 79.

Many of his sountracks and albums, in particular his iconic ”Blade Runner” score, have inspired so many of the electronic artists you read about in Release – and our staff. For instance, Release writer Mattias Göransson gave ”1492: Conquest of Paradise” a well-deserved 10.

And like many other great and interisting artists, he did not attend music school – he believed that it would have impeded his creativity and instead he played from memory and heart.

Vangelis (who didn’t want to release music by his real name Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou) collaborated with a number of artists, including Jon Anderson, Swedish alternative pop star Stina Nordenstam – and Nasa. The agency tweeted ”Ad astra, Vangelis” – to the stars, Vangelis.