I wasn't sure quite what to expect digging this out after many years. I don't know if I knew what to expect in 1984 or '85 when I bought it. Probably I was hoping for something like Opera Sauvage. The back cover of the album makes it look as though it's a soundtrack to a natural history TV series, as OS was. However, I can find no trace of a Soil Festivities film or programme.
To my ears, the album starts well but then loses its way. I went off searching the web to see what others had to say about. The Wikipedia entry is mostly guff with subjective, and not very coherent, comments about how 'new age' the music is. Much more interesting, though the writer's first language is evidently not English, is this fan review, noting how the album lacks Vangelis' "usual nostalgia". I hope Ivar de Vries won't mind me quoting him at length:
To achieve the maximum effect of freshness Vangelis uses some rather exotic harmonies, creative percussion and jumpy melody-lines. Also notice the rare use of double bass plucking sounds. The long first movement is set to a brisk walking tempo and is sometimes accompanied by rain-effects. On top of this Vangelis lets loose his improvisational skills to probably indicate the many forms of life springing into existence. The second movement has more of a tune-like quality and could be meant as the musical image of a plant growing beautifully but then withering away. This is the most tranquil piece of the lot, in contrast to the next three which are darker in atmosphere. The third movement shows the violent side of nature with moments of despair alternating with ones of glory, indicating the struggle to survive, whilst the fourth is more contemplative and a bit gloomy, perhaps indicating slowed-down nightlife activity. The best is saved for last: a wonderfully loose piece in which Vangelis again shows his skill at improvisation, going through many moods and tempos before setting up an emotional conclusion to this feast of life.Summing it up as a "real jewel in the crown of [Vangelis'] oeuvre", this is the kind of review that makes me want to listen again.
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So, I've listened again, and got more out of all the tracks — thanks in part to the review — but I disagree that the last movement is the best. I still like the first.
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After this album I didn't buy any more Vangelis for about 15 years, until I got his compilations. I don't remember being particularly put off by this one; I just drifted off in a different direction.
 MusicBrainz entry for this album
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