GusFogle
Group: Members
Posts: 198
Joined: July 2011 |
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Posted: Jan. 23 2017, 01:05 |
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You can buy the album digitally through Amazon, as I did.
This is the first time I've logged on in a few years (I almost disowned myself from the Oldfield fanbase after MOTR) but as I've just listened to Return To Ommadawn all the way through for the first time I figured I would throw in my 2 cents.
What I found strange as I listened to Part 1 was that initially I was pretty unimpressed, but hours after hearing it I feel the need to listen to it again, so maybe there is a chance it will grow on me. I find Part 1 much more akin to Hergest Ridge than to Ommadawn, but less melancholy than either. It is also less intense than either. Really the only way I can describe it after one hearing was "pleasant" but not overly memorable. I felt like the melodies on this part were somewhat underdeveloped and somewhat weak as a result. There are ghostly mirages of his past albums strewn throughout: a nod to Ommadawn here, Amarok there, Voyager here, Hergest Ridge there. The overall effect is somewhat unsettling and uneasy- there is nothing overtly offensive about the music here but it left me feeling slightly puzzled. Again I do intend to listen to the whole album again (possibly several times if it grows on me) so my feelings may shift.
Onto Part 2: strangely, I found the 2nd half of RTO to be far more effective than the 1st. The melodies were a bit stronger, the playing a bit more muscular, and in general it held my attention more so than the more subdued Part 1. There are shades of Voyager here, as well as the obligatory reference to Tubular Bells with Mike playing a 16th note bass sequence (very well played mind you) and jaunty acoustic playing. Again, nothing here blew me away either, until I heard the last 2 minutes. When I heard what is essentially the climax of the album, I actually hit the rewind button several times to listen again before the tune could even reach the end (the first and only occurrence of the whole listening section). It almost felt to me like Mike had reached down within himself and pulled out one last nugget of real inspiration- until I realized I was just hearing a reworking of the climax from Amarok, but it was still effective.
Overall I have to agree about the album's production and fidelity- it definitely could have benefited from some more EQ work. There are also some parts that are noticeably played out of time. Mike may have wanted it to sound raw, but the impression I got was that he recorded the first take and just didn't bother trying to get a better performance in some places. Still, the acoustic guitar playing though the whole album is really good. The electric playing is nice too, but it lacks the bite it did even 20 years ago, but I think that's just a sign of Mike mellowing. He actually seems happy now, if I were judging by the music. Some of his best music was written while he was in a great state of mental anguish. But I'm glad he's happier now. We should be thankful he is still bothering to record music at all, despite my criticisms.
I would give RTO 3 out of 5 stars. I like it, but I wish he had spent 6 more months refining the ideas, maybe expanding the variations and melodies and polishing the production. All in my personal opinion.
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