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"Hergest Ridge is a pastoral masterpiece... the second of many for Mike Oldfield..."
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5/5
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Barely enough time to digest the phenomenal and rather unexpected success of Tubular Bells, and here is Mike Oldfield back with his second work, with a similar format (2 long suites) but with a very different content... although. Retired in an isolated house near Wales to escape the pressure linked to the success of his first album, our hero is inspired this time by his country environment, including in the title given to this second album, Hergest Ridge being the name of a surrounding ridge.
Far from the violence and the multitude of themes present in Tubular Bells, Mike Oldfield offers us here a much calmer, more serene work, reducing the number of themes and taking the time to repeat them endlessly. Thus, the first track opens in a rather sluggish way, then takes its cruising rhythm during a long rise in power of nearly 8 minutes, carried by splendid interventions on the trumpet of Ted Hobart. A second theme, just as calm, then takes over, superbly introduced by the oboe. The third phase of this first part then follows after a new powerful rise combining the guitar and the glockenspiel. This last theme, more dynamic, will remind us of the sequence "presentation of the instruments" of Tubular Bells, the melody being enriched progressively with new instruments, before culminating on a remarkable intervention of ... tubular bells...
The second part of Hergest Ridge continues in the same way: a first part with a peaceful melody on the dry guitar, accompanied by the organ, and gradually embracing all kinds of string and wind instruments, before the intervention of vocalists. A new rise in volume allows then to introduce a second part clearly more dynamic and modern (that we find besides generally on the compilations). This one is first of all presented in the form of an anodyne air, supported by an organ with a jerky rhythmic, and leading to a gigantic chorus of saturated guitars superimposed the ones to the others (according to the sources, between 50 and 90!). 6 Dantesque minutes of a repetitive theme, that one will find (with the choice) imposing or completely boring. After this auditory deluge, an acoustic pause with the guitar allows the album to find its rural character, with a final accompanied by a string orchestra, the music ending in the manner of a music box arrived at the end of its spring mechanism.
Perhaps less immediate than in Tubular Bells and requiring more attention, the music of Hergest Ridge remains nevertheless of any beauty, unfolding calmly its atmospheres and establishing a climate favourable to the reverie, without however installing the listener in the torpor thanks to the second part taking care to wake up the dazed ones! After the phenomenal success of his first album, Mike Oldfield has succeeded in continuing his incredible journey by avoiding the trap of repetition, and adding a second indispensable nugget to his work. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Part One - 21:40 02. Part Two - 18:51
LINEUP:
Chili Charles: Batterie Clodagh Simmonds & Sally Oldfield: Choeurs June Whiting & Lindsey Cooper: Hautbois Mike Oldfield: Guitares / Basse / Claviers / ... et tous les instruments sauf ... Orchestre à cordes et choeurs: dirigé par David Bedford Ted Hobart: Trompette
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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(1) COMMENT(S)
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Un album planant, très inspiré, à l'ambiance légère et divine à la fois. Rythmes hypnotiques, répétés à l'infini, qui vous bercent sans vous endormir. Un voyage intérieur, tout en douceur malgré l'énergie certaine qui est diffusée dans cette oeuvre.
Pastoral, émouvant, intimiste, cet album est une oeuvre délicate sans préciosité, sereine sans jamais être ennuyeuse. Certains thèmes sont presque déchirants sans avoir à déployer une débauche de décibels. Certaines mélodies reviennent, se transforment, se meublent de plus en plus, dans une sorte de boléro très élaboré.
Probablement le deuxième album le mieux réussi et qui confirme en beauté, mieux encore que le premier, le talent incontestable de Mike Oldfield.
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READERS
4.1/5 (7 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.2/5 (6 view(s))
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT MIKE OLDFIELD
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