Tubular Bells (Virgin Records, 1973)
“Tubular Bells” is the debut album of Mike Oldfield, and is the innovative and revolutionary album in the history of music, and the first release from Virgin Records of Richard Branson.
Almost instruments are played by Mike himself and recorded by an Ampex 16-track tape recorder.
“Part 1” begins with the famous theme arpeggio, later used in the horror cinema “The Exorcist”. From 4:00 the changed major, and the mood become bright and Scottish traditional one. From 6:00, distorted guitar play an excellent cool solo. From 7:30, key changes minor and acoustic guitar, piano, vibraphone and glockenspiel play Folk taste riffs. From 9:00 instruments play brave melodies. From 11:30, the mood become like blues, clean electric guitar plays sorrowful solo. 13:30, plays are become dynamic and mood changes. From 14:30, distorted guitar play Rock taste riffs and other instruments follow. From 16:00, mood become silent and dull, and acoustic guitar play solo. From 17:00, it begins the introduction of instruments, Bass guitar, acoustic guitar, clean electric guitars play the same phrase repetitions. Vivian Stanshall called instruments and an instrument play each phrase. Grand piano, pipe organ, glockenspiel, another bass guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, another acoustic guitar and tubular bells follow. Then female chorus take part in, and the song fade out.
“Part 2” it begins in melancholic and apathetic mood and Scottish traditional taste like a foggy landscape of Scotland. Guitar and piano play arpeggio. Then the plays is brighter and more dynamic. From 5:30, the mood change joyful and light, and organ plays solo with guitars’ backings. From 8:00, female chorus and fine mandolin phrases follow. From 9:00, the taste become serious and grandiose, guitar and organ play solos, associates an old village festival. From 11:45, the taste changes Rock, and voice like tribal soldier cries, and guitar, piano and drum kit play accompaniment. From 17:00, the mood become dark and melancholic, guitar play solo with organ accompaniment, and the mood become gradually sacred and bright. In the end, suddenly, a funny and amusing folk dance music by guitars and organ begin.
By the famous introduction phrase was adopted in “The Exorcist”, this album is knew as “fear”, but entirely this album associates nostalgic and sweet green fields, hills and natural landscapes in Scotland. Also it’s Progressive Rock, Instrumental Rock and New Age masterpiece, also has elements of Scottish and British Traditional Music, Krautrock and Minimal Music.
Hergest Ridge (Virgin Records, 1974)
“Hergest Ridge” is the second album of Mike Oldfield, after the great success of “Tubular Bells”, this album also has the similar grandiose structure of two long length tracks.
“Part 1” begins with sacred and English Folk mood ensemble by fulute(s), vibraphone and glockenspiel. From 3:00, synthesizer, bass guitar and pizzicato take part in. Around 6:00, mood become dynamic and brave, Around 8:30, the mood become sorrow and nostalgic, clarinet play melodies and guitar plays backing arpeggio, then electric guitar follows and plays ornamented melodies. From around 11:30, electric bass solely plays bass part. 15:00 organ and wind instruments take part in and mood become bright. Electric guitar and chorus follow and the plays are more dynamic. Nostalgic and folk taste ensemble closes the part calmly.
“Part 2” begins with melancholic mood with organ, guitar and glockenspiel, Around 3:00, the key changes and mood become bright, then sacred chorus follow. Around 6:00 mood become silent and gradually become dynamic by distorted guitar play. At 9:30, suddenly the key changes and a hard distorted guitars folk dance taste impressive riff begins. And at 15:30, suddenly guitar riff ends and mood become silent and sacred. Then sacred traditional taste female vocal of Scottish language take part in with ensemble and it closes the album.
A good unique style album of Mike Oldfield.
Ommadawn (Virgin Records, 1975)
“Ommadawn” is the third original album of Mike Oldfield, is consist of two long length grand songs and five short songs.
“Ommadawn, Part One” is 20 minutes length grand work. It begins with Falk taste phrases by guitars and marimba or mallet instruments. Then clean electric guitar follows. From 4:30, drums and distorted guitar take part in and mood become dynamic like cornemuse. But suddenly taste changes cut by acoustic guitar solo and ensemble and gradually mood become precious and grandiose. 9:30, electric guards play fine and excellent solos. 12:00 the mood changes traditional and mysterious, flute and synthesizer plays nostalgic melodies, the Irish langage vocal and ethnic percussions follow. At 16:00, the vocal ends and guitars play solos with ensemble and the plays reach the peak and close the song.
“Ommadawn, Part 2” begins with sacred and significant guitars, synthesizers, organ and chorus ensemble. From 5:30, the mood suddenly changes calm acoustic guitar play nostalgic melodies with a piano and glockenspiel accompaniment. From 7:20, cornemuse plays solo. At 10:00 cornemuse solo ends, organ and guitar play sorrowful phrases. At 12:00, suddenly mood changes again, folk dance taste part starts, electric guitars take part in and the plays become dynamic. At 14:00 suddenly song cut out and, male Irish language vocal sings a nostalgic song like traditional one with guitars arpeggios and organ chord and flute accompaniment, then song closes.
British and Irish traditional taste and electronic technologies, nostalgic and aggressive melodies are compatible in “Ommadawn”. And it’s the second greatest work of Mike Oldfield, next to “Tubular Bells”.
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