Mike Oldfield - Incantations
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Free Music Notes for Incantations
Free Music Review: Not the place to start, but...
Hit: 5 Stars
OK, here's the deal. Up until this point, much of Oldfield's work has been based off of the ideas he explored on "Tubular Bells": extended rock-based work, which elaborated on the ideas in something of a classically-inflected manner. On "Incantations", the tables get turned. This work is much more of a proper _classical_ piece (in fact, for all practical purposes, it follows 'proper' symphonic form!) which utilizes some rock (mainly instrumentation) elements. And musically, this work actually fits in more with works by composers such as Philip Glass, Steve Reich, or John Adams; it's worth noting that Oldfield, on his next album, would even include a Philip Glass 'cover'. This is a tremendous jump forward from the previous three albums, although Oldfield does presage what he's doing here, to some extent, on "Ommadawn". My suggestion, therefore, would be to go and listen to "Tubular Bells" or "Ommadawn" first, make sure you're down with some of the work of the composers mentioned above, _then_ pick this one up...and what's up here should sink right in. All that aside, this is perhaps one of the best works of classical 'minimalism' (which is what it more or less belongs in), easily on-par with the work of other 'serious' composers, and which actually manages to extend the cellularly-based minimalist concept into lusher, more complex territory. John Adams would later get the kudos for doing this, but Oldfield was there some time before him with this work. IMHO, one of the great 'missing masterpieces' of this style of music...deserves a _lot_ more attention, but in its right context.Free Music Review: Minimalist Gem
Hit: 5 Stars
This may very well be my favorite Oldfield piece as well as one of my favorite minimalist works. I believe this album was Oldfield's first after Ommadawn and that it came nearly three years later. Those three years were well spent, beleive me! As good as Ommadawn is, I actually prefer Incantations for several reasons. The first and obvious reason is that it's longer than Ommadawn. I'd rather have 70 minutes of Mike's music that 40 minutes any day! Another reason is that Incantations sounds slightly less dated (and has a more enduring appeal for me) than Ommadawn. Ommadawn is a little too psychedelic at times for my preference and I sometimes get the feeling that he set out to accomplish slightly more with it than he actually did. I never get that feeling with Incantations. Also, Ommadawn lacks the sheer musical drama of Incantations. The first and fourth parts are particularly dramatic.If you like Mike's long pieces (most of Mike's fans do!) and if you find minimalist works at all palatable, you will love Incantations. I noticed that some of the reviewers have pointed out that more than a minute is missing from the original release but, never having heard the original, I don't miss a thing. I would certainly have preferred to have purchased the work in its entirety, but it's so good even as it is that I really can't complain. This is a five star effort any way you slice it!
By the way, if you like minimalist compositions, check out Steve Reich's "The Four Sections."
Free Music Review: Best Oldfield Album
Hit: 5 Stars
I was 16 years old when Five Miles Out came and turned me on to Oldfield with an impact I have yet to experience again. After that, I started buy everything he had done so far (including all hard-to-find singles ex. Froggy went a courting and more) When I came upon Incantations, It didn't strike as hard at first, but after a couple of spinns of it and after getting to know the structure (basically, built around one chord. A Dm11) and the lyrical parts of it, it grew so hard that I became obsessed with it.The lyrics from Woldsworth Longfellow Hiawatha sung by Maddy Prior http://www.gaudela.net/prior/frames.html is beatiful and adds another level to the music. http://tubular.net/lyrics/Incantations.shtml#1
It's not a starting point for beginning Oldfield fans, but when you get there, you'll never turn back
Free Music Review: An Enchanting Watershed
Hit: 5 Stars
It's difficult to describe this album; it's not quite like his earlier works (Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge, Ommadawn) but yet notquite like those that came later (such as Platinum and QE2). Although I have to say it's not one of my *most* favourite MO albums, I still find myself compelled to listen to it from time to time, especially the final track (Incantations 4). For anyone who is a serious fan of Mike Oldfield, I have to recommend this. For those who are just beginning their voyage along the Oldfield path, then I'd recommend that you listen (or buy!) Ommadawn and/or Hergest Ridge first....then the orchestration on this album will make more sense. Five out of five nevertheless!Free Music Review: Oldfield's "Incantations" - Music with Integrity
Hit: 5 Stars
I did not know who Mike Oldfield was unti I came across this double album. I was about 15 when I first heard it. I'm 32 now and still listening to it. No other album has inspired me as much as this one. I have subsequently listened to and have admired works as diverse as Throbbing Gristle to Autechre and Drum 'n Bass, but I keep coming back to Oldfield's "Incantations". It's uniqueness is in it's ability to communicate countless ideas and sensations without overloading the senses. To knock up an album like this Oldfield must be considered a unique figure in the history of prog-rock.