larstangmark
Group: Members
Posts: 1759
Joined: Mar. 2005 |
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Posted: May 09 2005, 18:02 |
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It was great fun watching the Elements DVD. I admit I hadn't seen most of the videos. I had seen Pictures in the Dark on swedish TV in 1985 (after which Mike performed Jungle Gardenia playback with his band), and I have seen Moonligt Shadow on MTV.
The performance of TB1 is excelent! Great musicanship and not as "rocked up" as the Exposed version. Great stuff and Mike looks good!
The "pre-exegesis" videos are fun but kind of naive. Mike doesn't look he wants to participate, which is a great contrast to the later videos. He looks seriously embarrased by that dance troupe that's invaded his home in one clip.
The early 80s videos are more pretentious. It was a time of wild visual experimentation and all the bizzare things that turn up on the screen distracts from the music. FMO is the worst (technically speaking), but the S/M girls in Shadow on the Wall is pure 80s rock video cliché.
The videos for To France and Tricks of the Light are interesting just to see the band in action. Makes me think of what a brave decision it was to bring Maggie Reilly on board although she didn't neceserily look the part of mid 80s rock chicks. Her voice is amazing.
But the video thing really started getting out of hand in '85 when Mike bought that video studio/computer thing. Pictures in the Dark and Shine are really hysterical visually. Jon Andersson doesn't make an ass out of himself (as I for some reason expected him to do).
The most *stupid* moment must be when Mike's chest "beats" in time with the bass drum in Pictures in the Dark. That wasn't too cool really! :-/
I know these videos weren't meant to last forever and they were mostly done to have something to show on TV to promote the singles, but the famed "Video album" must be an all time failure!
The only video on "The Wind Chimes" that seems to have involved a professional producer is Magic Touch (which I remember as one the worst tracks from Island, but it sounds kind of catchy now! . The Time Has Come has the worst video ever. Just a bunch of random religious symbols flying around the screen, superimposed over Anita's face. She's a cute girl, but she doesn't look to smart with that 80s/ancient look, face squeezed into a square at the bottom of the screen. I watch the video for the 20 minute title track when I suddenly realize the visuals are OK as "background" when you're just hanging about. Kind of like the "fireplace" videos that were popular at the time. Perhaps that was the intention? Anyway, Kevin Ayers is always cool.
The Earth Moving and Heaven's Open videos looks more professional. Perhaps Mike hired outside producers? Mike is no actor, that's for sure. I love Innocent so much that I even think the visuals are kind of nice.
Perhaps you think I'm overly negative, but I don't mean to sound negative. But I don't think Mike Oldfield ever was a great visual artist. He's a great musician, and the most captivating images are the ones that just future the man playing his instrument. I'm grateful that Virgin did release this DVD though. It's fun to have and it made me go back , listen and re-eveluate some of the older albums.
Now I'm just waiting for the Knewborth video be released on DVD. that's an INCREDIBLE performance!
Lars T
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"There are twelve people in the world, the rest are paste"
Mark E Smith
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