Mike Oldfield - Light & Shade
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Free Music Notes for Light & Shade
Free Music Review: Surfing.
Hit: 4 Stars
I own nearly all of Oldfield's albums, and some are better than others. I'm sure Oldfield fans have their favorites (which aren't necessarily my favorites--like 1990's "Amarok"). I'll say that "Light + Shade" offers some of the best music Mike has produced since 1994's "Songs Of Distant Earth". There are actual memorable melodies here like "Sunset", "Pres De Toi", "Lakme (Fruity Loops)", "Surfing", "Angelique", "First Steps", "Quicksilver" and others.
Mike Oldfield, along with Vangelis and Tangerine Dream, was one of the first pioneers of New Age/Classical music, and he's proven himself a talent. However, the creativity department has been lacking in the past decade. "Light + Shade" is a step in the right direction.
The album is greater than the sum of its individual parts. Oldfield re-utilizes "Tubuluar Bells" segments mixed strategically into some of the songs. While some might be harsh in criticizing this albums, I found that it's one of his better instrumental albums. I was disappointed with "Tres Lunas", "Guitars", "Tubular Bells 3" and "Millenium Bell", and I really wish Mike would do away with "Tubular Bells altogether because I've had enough of the different interpretations of that piece of music.
Even though "Light + Shade" is a return to form, I'd still like to see him try something new--especially after being around for 33 years. There's nothing to lose, Mike, and why not return to what you do best which is electronic pop songs. Set aside the intrumental background music and return to "Five Miles Out", "Crises", "Discovery", "Islands" and "Earth Moving" territory for a little while.
Free Music Review: Give it a chance...
Hit: 4 Stars
This is one of those albums that has to be heard at least 7, 8 times before it "sinks in", so to speak. At first, I was a bit disappointed, but now I think there are great songs on it. I've listened to Oldfield practically all my life and consider myself to be true fan, but realistic - of course not all of his work is great, but I've come to respect him - every one of his albums is different, and he doesn't repeat himself much. Light+Shade definately hides some "treasures", but I repeat: you have to give it a chance - listen to it a few times, and you'll start to like a song or two that you'll repeat dozens of times.Free Music Review: I wish there was some non-computer music
Hit: 3 Stars
I like the music on this album, but it sounds like it was created entirely on a computer...with no real instruments present. It therefore has a 'closed-in' feeling that lessened the enjoyment for me. Even a mix of acoustic and computer would have given a spark of life to this album. I therefore can't really recommend it. 3 stars only, just for the presentation, not for the music itself.Free Music Review: Dissapointing...
Hit: 2 Stars
As a follower of Mike's works, I consider Light and Shade too extensive (it could be done in a single Cd), boring, and there's a feeling of lacking inspiration. Not bad tunes(better than Tr3s Lunas), although compared with early recordings L&S is many steps down.
He always complained of being considered a "New Age" composer, but the only thing he does here is to confirm he belongs to this category.
Free Music Review: below standard
Hit: 1 Stars
As a long time Oldfield fan, I must say that I'm very disappointed by this effort. I've heard all these sounds before. Tres Lunas was bad, heavily recycling sounds from the Songs of the Distant Earth, but he had that game as an excuse. But there is no excuse for this album - boring, boring, boring, non-melodic bunch sounds we heard before. I thought he can't make it worse than Earth Moving, but I was wrong - this is terrible.