bee
Group: Members
Posts: 1227
Joined: Jan. 2004 |
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Posted: May 29 2009, 17:52 |
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I don't think of it as a 'problem'. I think the albums are what they are, and it is us with our knowledge of all that has gone before in Mike's musical output that causes us to wonder and suppose with 'what ifs'. He, presumably was happy with the end result or he wouldn't pursued the projects and put them out for people to hear.
Listening to Music of the Spheres now, months after it's release, I feel it has it's own life and true expression. It is itself. It's not trying to be anything other than what it is. I love it and listen to it for different reasons to those that I listen to Incantations or Tubular Bells. It is the music of Mike Oldfield and I hear that very much, but there is a huge influence of Karl Jenkins there too in the orchestration, quite astounding at times. And that was why he was asked to take part. Still good though. I think I said when it very first came out, that it would be good to hear MOTS produced and constructed in a similar way to Tubular Bells, because you can hear Mike's ideas so clearly, so cleverly woven into each other. Maybe one day....but what a huge project! Think I kind of want to hear it though.
With Incantations, this deserves so much more time than I am able to devote to it at the moment. It is rare for me to get 1 uninterruped hour to myself at home, so I am patiently waiting for the time to come, and it surely will come ..eventually..when I can sink into it's depths again. I do remember as a teenager listening to it a lot and finding the way it totally involved me very addictive. Someone close to me at the time made a comment saying how repetitive the whole thing was, meaning it was a bit boring, but to me that just showed exactly how much they hadn't listened! I don't think I would describe it as orchestral as a whole, maybe in places, but it's still got that unique Oldfield sound.
I still think one of the most original talents Mike has, his own personal way of doing things, of hearing what sounds right, is his ability to make one theme/ idea/ melody flow to the next. He does it with such expertise and apparent effortlessness that you feel it was always meant to be that way. He allows the sound to live. He is like an archtiect with vision, unafraid to try new ways of building sound and coming up with something breathtakingly beautiful and new, yet strangely familiar at the same time. Yes there are a few weird ideas sometimes, but nothing, to my mind, is not worth listening to.
-------------- ....second to the right and straight on till morning....
You heard me before Yet you hear me again Then I die Till I call me again
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