Hypothesis (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Hypothesis
Type = Album
Artist = Vangelis


Released = 1978
Recorded = May 1971,Marquee Studios, London
Genre = Electronica
Length = Part 1 - 16:00Part 2 - 16:10
Label = Affinity, # CR 3037
Producer = Vangelis, Giorgio Gomelsky
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:geb1z88a8yv5 link] |
Last album = "Beaubourg" (1978)
This album = "Hypothesis" (1978)
Next album = "China" (1979)

"Hypothesis" is a 1978 album by the Greek artist Vangelis. In May 1971 Vangelis had played several sessions in London's Marquee Studios, joined for some of them by violinist Michel Ripoche, bass guitarist Brian Odgers (called Odger on the sleeve) and drummer Tony Oxley, the rhythm section of the famous Extrapolation recording released by John McLaughlin. Two albums' worth of material had resulted from these sessions, but were never intended for release. Nevertheless, in 1978 two albums duly appeared in shops, on the Affinity label (a subsidiary of Charly Records) "Hypothesis" and "The Dragon". Vangelis subsequently took the label to court to have both LPs taken off the market. They have critically been considered to be unsuccessful as albums.

Musically, the album can be considered to be Vangelis' most idiosyncratic and unusual release, as it takes the form of an extended experiment in experimental Jazz, or Jazz fusion. Perhaps because of the uncertain legal status of the album, it has not yet been released on CD.

An alternative release of Hypothesis was titled "Visions of the Future".

In Germany "Hypothesis" and "The Dragon" were issued together as a double album titled "Portrait".

The cover artwork for Hypothesis is by Angus McKie, and is merely a "borrowed" illustration he drew for a series of novels by SF author Brian Stableford, featuring the spacecraft Hooded Swan, mentioned in the books.

Track listing

#"Hypothesis, Part 1" – 16:00
#"Hypothesis, Part 2" – 16:10

References

* [http://www.vangelismovements.com/hypothesis.htm 'Vangelis Movements' webpage entry]
* [http://www.koert.com/data/gomelsky.htm Giorgio Gomelsky's memories on recording with Vangelis]