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Matt Group: Admins Posts: 1186 Joined: Nov. 2002 Posted: April 09 2008, 09:37 Tempest is a curious track for me. Ever since first hearing the album it is a track that I have not liked, to the point where I sometimes skip it. However it is clear that lots of other people here love this track, for many it seems to be a favorite of the whole album. I wondered for a while if it would grow on me and I would eventually "get it" but many many listens later my feelings are still the same. The track for me sounds quite cacophonous, particularly the first half. Sometimes I like the Mike uses this sort of thing, for instance the challanging, painful section around 4 mins in of Amarok or the angry thunderstorm section of Hergest Ridge. In those pieces, the more painful-to-listen-to noises are followed by something wonderous and part of my enjoyment of the noise is feeling that it is a part of the whole and I have the anticipation of what is ahead Tempest doesn't do this for me. It does quieten down in the second half to something a bit more enjoyable but for me there isn't any "something wonderous" that appears in the piece to complement the noises at the start. So, do you like it? Any idea what it is I am missing in the track? Why do you like it? -------------- "I say I say I say I say, what's got three bottles and five eyes and no legs and two wheels" Back to top

Gabo Group: Members Posts: 9 Joined: Feb. 2008 Posted: April 09 2008, 09:50 Noises? What noises? Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: April 09 2008, 10:19 I like it a lot; it's definitely my favourite track from the first half and possibly my favourite overall, even though, as I've said elsewhere, on the whole the second half is the stronger one to me. It's so good to hear Mike breaking out of the 4/4 rut. It reminds me a lot of Steve Reich, whose music I'm very fond of, and whose influence Mike put to such good use on Incantations and other early albums, but has been neglecting for a long time now. Certainly the most refreshing thing on MotS to my ears. Back to top

arron11196 Group: Members Posts: 826 Joined: April 2005 Posted: April 09 2008, 15:29 I hear what your saying Matt, on the first two listens I wasnt especially impressed... but I think the idea of the track, being the cacophonous sort that it may be, is to demonstrate a Tempest. I can imagine a star being formed - the various forces that go into the protoplanetary disc and the playing about that happens as we see them forming. I think, underneath the main string section, there is definately a sort of harmony which as you point out, is resonated in the second half of the track. I also agree that at first for me, it did sort of stand out from the rest of the album as almost being out of place - but now that I have the associated mental imagery with the music I think it fits in well for me. Perhaps thats what you need to do... maybe try listening to the track by itself without the rest of the album, and try and get it on its own - I know thats not really the way Oldfield stuff maybe should be appreciated, but it might help you to find your own way into the track. -------------- Arron J Eagling Everyone's interpretation is different, and everyone has a right to that opinion. There is no "right" one, I am adding this post to communicate my thoughts to share them with like-minded souls who will be able to comment in good nature. (insert the last 5 mins of Crises here) Back to top

Legend Group: Members Posts: 70 Joined: Oct. 2005 Posted: April 10 2008, 04:32 I must say I feel the same way about Tempest as you Matt. So far, to me, it´s just a filler - a bit like Mastermind from TMB. It hasn´t got the touching moods as the previous tracks, which I´m soooo attracted to. Back to top

TheMann Group: Members Posts: 103 Joined: June 2004 Posted: April 10 2008, 13:06 To me, clearly the strongest track on the 1st Movement. Complex, beutiful; the horns over the intensive strings + lovely guitar playing ... I wish there were even more of it on this otherwise excellent work. Perhaps just before the final, the transition there isn't 100% perfect I think. Back to top

ian Group: Members Posts: 473 Joined: Nov. 1999 Posted: April 10 2008, 13:53 I think it's one of the better moments of the album. Back to top

Harmono Group: Members Posts: 759 Joined: May 2005 Posted: April 10 2008, 15:11 Well, what sounds cacophonic to some people can be wonderfully polyphonic/polyrhythmic to others, to me The Tempest is the latter.  Imo the energy is huge.   Back to top

Tati The Sentinel Group: Members Posts: 3360 Joined: Feb. 2002 Posted: April 10 2008, 21:57 I've always imagined in my mind a ship saling into the sea while I listen to this track,facing off a big tempest! -------------- "But it's always the outsider, the black sheep, that becomes the blockbuster." - Mike Oldfield, 2014 "I remember feeling that I'd been judged unfairly and that I was going to prove them wrong." - Peter Davison, 2011 Back to top

kuraaka Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: May 2005 Posted: April 11 2008, 18:28 Well... it's simply the best track off the album. It does not sound cacophonous at all and the orhestration is rather brilliant. Behind all that buzzing (or is it the right word?) there is a melody that carries it all, even if it is not that obvious. Splendid. Wonderful. And I love the beginning of Incantations. Back to top

Hillbilly Group: Members Posts: 51 Joined: June 2001 Posted: April 13 2008, 04:49 I agree with Matt, that "The tempest" is a bit "cacophonous" (correct spelling?). I haven't really got into the track. To me, it's the weakest piece of "Part One", although I never skip it because you need to hear the whole thing through. Back to top

CuNimb Group: Members Posts: 222 Joined: July 2003 Posted: April 13 2008, 15:11 I love it. Makes me think of planets whirling round with great energy on their various orbits.   -------------- Happy? ha ha ha.... Back to top

Dave in Ledbury Group: Members Posts: 13 Joined: April 2008 Posted: April 14 2008, 11:51 I love this particular track, it is one of the highlights of the album for me.  I think it is a very complex piece, and I imagine it must be difficult to play live.  However, I would really love to hear it played live  (along with the rest of the composition) -------------- "Dave, I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over...." Back to top

Matt Group: Admins Posts: 1186 Joined: Nov. 2002 Posted: April 15 2008, 05:56 Some interesting thoughts. I've tried using imagery as suggested to enjoy the piece a bit more and it kinda works but still Tempest is not grabbing me the same way it clearly does for many of you. I note that nobody seems to think it is "rubbish" or poorly written/performed. Just some - like me - don't really like it. Some descriptions used by people I certainly agree with. For instance the word "refreshing" I can understand and "complex" is certainly true. I guess it comes down to peoples particular likes and dislikes which is fine. I also think Hormono summed one aspect of Tempest up nicely with "what sounds cacophonic to some people can be wonderfully polyphonic/polyrhythmic to others". Maybe as the years pass it'll grow on me more. In the meantime, I think at least I am starting to respect the piece, even if that doesn't mean I necessarily like it. -------------- "I say I say I say I say, what's got three bottles and five eyes and no legs and two wheels" Back to top

Mattthew Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: Jan. 2008 Posted: April 15 2008, 09:50 I really enjoy the track Matt, it provides some really special moments for me as I listen. As I am not a scholar of music and I really can't discern between a C and an F, but I am content to give audience to those who create music with passion... I could be considered musically/technically ignorant. I think that because I listen without knowing all the ins and outs I am fortunate to be able to just feel it... (my objectivity doesn't get in the way and wreck the experience for me). Relax and try not to think too much about it, just let it take you... Back to top

Harmono Group: Members Posts: 759 Joined: May 2005 Posted: April 15 2008, 17:43 Quote (Matt @ April 15 2008, 11:56) Hormono ...I'm sure that's just a typo...now that I think about it, maybe it should be Hormone, my reddish beard seems to be growing faster every day. Back to top

Romendacil Group: Members Posts: 4 Joined: May 2008 Posted: May 07 2008, 16:56 Hi. New to this forum, but as a new fan of Mike, I thought I'd register and share my opinions. And I also agree with those, who think this track is brilliant. It stands out as unique, modern and original from the rest of this already amazing album. For one it gives a push to your imagination because of the texture of the music and the rapid moving. Second it has a musical prinsible in it. Atleast I think I hear it... As there should be darkness, opposed with light in music, there also could be dissonance and chaos opposed to order and harmony. The effect is always powerful and thought evoking. To truly understand this piece I suggest to listen carefully in 2.20. It's genius! The violins get even more chaotic and fast. And meanwhile, in the backround you can hear a reed playing the most harmonic, sensual and relaxing melody... Chaos versus order. Dissonance versus harmony. It's so beautiful, makes my heart explode. That single melody. It's my favourite 3-4 seconds on the whole album. And of course the finale with the horns simple, yet powerful melody, witch can be heard at the end of Musica Universalis too. The violins in the backround remain dynamic, but now you can sense a melody in their movements. I think this is the most powerful melody in the whole album. Well... sorry for the long post. I think it wasn't completely pointless. Cheers all! Back to top

trcanberra Group: Members Posts: 349 Joined: Jan. 2008 Posted: May 20 2008, 18:28 Hey Romendacil - weclome aboard (Tolkien name there??). Love the analysis, not too long for me, captures my feelings on the track perfectly. Back to top

SoimSandheaver Group: Members Posts: 325 Joined: May 2006 Posted: June 16 2008, 01:19 I think this is one of the tracks that kind of grew on me the more I listened to it. I do kinda like it now. -------------- "Three blokes go into a pub, one of them's a little bit stupid, then the whole scene unfolds, with a tedious inevitability." Back to top

nightspore Group: Members Posts: 4770 Joined: Mar. 2008 Posted: June 17 2008, 00:07 It's said that orchestral music, with its many instruments, represents the voice of the crowd, the masses, while chamber music, containing few instruments, is more personal in its vision. Mike's music tends to fall into the second category. I think this is why I don't care much for Music of the Spheres, even though  I generally only listen to "classical music". Back to top

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