Search - Mike Oldfield :: Incantations

An Epic Soundtrack to Realms of Fantasy and Magic

Shaun Anderson | Nottingham/Hereford, England, UK | 12/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Originally released in December of 1978 "Incantations" saw a rejuvenated Mike Oldfield emerge after three years of relative silence, no longer the sombre, shy, and introverted young musician. He was ready to head into the punk wars, with his greatest weapon shining bright; his music. The romantic windswept cover saw a clean cut, short haired Oldfield brimming with new found confidence and musical ideas. Some could argue that the controversial therapy treatments he went through in the preceding years drove the creative spark of genius from his music. And even hardened Oldfield fans would concede that his music is markedly different post therapy.

This is not to say that "Incantations" is totally different to his first three recordings. But this time Mike expands the canvas somewhat and presents a double album comprising four suites of interconnected music. This would actually be his last long instrumental album for 12 years, which was a great shame because on this record he shows that the promise of "Tubular Bells" had been completely fulfilled.

This is a beautifully textured album, one which conjures up magical fantasy worlds, of epic struggles between the forces of light and dark. Ultimately with Oldfield's new found confidence the forces of light prevail, on a generally up beat album. This marks the album out from the darkness and chaos of previous records. This is a positive album, evocative, strange and undeniably British.

Mike also extends his instrumental range with greater use of wind and string instruments to give this album a subtle touch of ethnicity. Synthetic instrumentation and the use of drums hint at the more commercial spectrum his work was to take with "Platinum" and "QE2". Amid its shifting sound-scapes in which the planets soar past, Oldfield created a fantasy epic, one which seems as comfortable in Middle Earth, as it is on our Earth.

"

Perfect........Just Perfect

Jeff Gower | 02/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mike Oldfield's pinnacle of musical expression. Period. Deliberately paced, superbly orchestrated, brilliantly performed, and powerfully passionate. Mike Oldfield reached new heights on this album, and I remember being blown away when it came out - I nearly wore out the 4 sides of the double LP (and drove my college roomates crazy doing so). To this day, I listen to the entire album nonstop, as it deserves. The Song To Hiawatha part, with Maddy Prior, is especially ethereal, and the finale is spine-tingling. Brilliant!!"