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SentinelGard Group: Members Posts: 358 Joined: June 2003 Posted: Mar. 07 2004, 02:31 I was looking for some New M.O albums to add to my collection so i posted on the forums here to ask for some addvise on which would be a good chill solection. I was told Hergest Ridge & Incations would be a good choice , so i went to the music store ond picked up these two albums plus Amarok aswell. I would have to say,,,, "Not Bad , Not bad at all".. These albums rock and i would have to say these are essential to any ones M.O collection..   Big thumbs up .... Cheers for the addvise.. Peace The SentinelGard of Ozz   -------------- "Onwards & Upwards'" Back to top

DarthUr Group: Members Posts: 7 Joined: Jan. 2004 Posted: Mar. 16 2004, 00:04 i agree but my incantations side 1 has a giant pock mark in it  the upside is it only cost me $4.  awesome records. Back to top

Guimauve2 Group: Members Posts: 36 Joined: April 2004 Posted: April 03 2004, 16:10 I agree, the three of them (incantations + hr + amarok) are amazing, especially amarok Back to top

Ben Group: Members Posts: 35 Joined: Mar. 2004 Posted: April 04 2004, 13:04 The first time i listened to Hergest Ridge i wasn't impressed and for a long time  i never touched it again... but then when i listed to it again, i loved it. Strange how my mind works when it comes to music lol. -------------- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ~ Ben -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Back to top

Guimauve2 Group: Members Posts: 36 Joined: April 2004 Posted: April 04 2004, 17:22 Quote (Ben @ April 04 2004, 13:04) The first time i listened to Hergest Ridge i wasn't impressed and for a long time  i never touched it again... but then when i listed to it again, i loved it. Strange how my mind works when it comes to music lol. I felt the same way towards Hergest Ridge. Back to top

familyjules Group: Members Posts: 1190 Joined: May 2004 Posted: May 26 2004, 05:56 Quote (Guimauve2 @ April 04 2004, 17:22) The first time i listened to Hergest Ridge i wasn't impressed and for a long time  i never touched it again... but then when i listed to it again, i loved it. Strange how my mind works when it comes to music lol. I felt the same way towards Hergest Ridge. And the same goes for me.  It would appear to be a common reaction to HR: not impressed leading eventually to love.  It's a very subtle record, and a very brave one to make after the success of Tubular Bells. -------------- I like beer and I like cheese Back to top

Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: May 26 2004, 07:13 Quote (familyjules @ May 26 2004, 05:56) And the same goes for me.  It would appear to be a common reaction to HR: not impressed leading eventually to love.  It's a very subtle record, and a very brave one to make after the success of Tubular Bells. It's interesting, because I was immediately impressed by Hergest Ridge. It must have been that choir section at part 1, or the whole beginning of part 2... But then, I was immediately impressed with Tubular Bells, Amarok, Incantations and, uh, I still haven't made up my mind on Ommadawn. -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

familyjules Group: Members Posts: 1190 Joined: May 2004 Posted: May 26 2004, 07:26 Quote (Sir Mustapha @ May 26 2004, 07:13) I still haven't made up my mind on Ommadawn. This stuns me.  When I listen to Ommadawn I spend pretty much the entire listening experience being totally thrilled, and intoxicated. If there was ever an album I'd bring out to silence the Oldfield nay-sayers it would be this one.  The melodies are top drawer, the way he weaves them together is magical, Paddy Maloney plays his socks off on side two, the jaunty folk tune in the middle of side one is the essence of joy captured, and the electric guitar at the climax of side one is the most spine-tingly intense musical roller-coaster ride of all time. The blend of ancient music and modern sounds is nigh perfect in my opinion. Ommadawn gets my vote as not only Mike's most instantly enjoyable instrumental album, but also his most accomplished and the one that's dated the best also. Jules -------------- I like beer and I like cheese Back to top

Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: May 26 2004, 09:37 I just feel that I need to be in a good mood to enjoy Ommadawn. If I'm not feeling like it, I will downright hate the album. Most of his other albums bring me back to a good mood, no matter what... and others bring me down to a bad mood. Good mood: Wow, this songs great. These instruments sure weave great little things in front of me. I can capture all that feeling! I sure can tap my feet to the end of part 1, groove to the finale of part 2, and On Horseback rules! Bad mood: Ok, it's been 12 minutes already, and I counted one - two, at best - solid melodies in this mess. The finale of part one doesn't hold half a candle to even one second of the ending of part one of Tubular Bells, the beginning of part two goes for three minutes too long, but On Horseback rules! Ok, it has dated well - I'll give it that - but it's still my least favourite of Mike's 70's albums. The other albums are just way too strong a competition. -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

familyjules Group: Members Posts: 1190 Joined: May 2004 Posted: May 26 2004, 10:05 Quote (Sir Mustapha @ May 26 2004, 09:37) Bad mood: Ok, it's been 12 minutes already, and I counted one - two, at best - solid melodies in this mess. The finale of part one doesn't hold half a candle to even one second of the ending of part one of Tubular Bells, the beginning of part two goes for three minutes too long, but On Horseback rules! Sir M I've just been checking out your website.  I think your reviews are superbly well written and I agree with so much you have written there about Mike and also about Pink Floyd.  I can't believe how well you write for someone so young and for whom English is maybe not even their first language (or am I wrong there?).  So keep it up - I'm more than impressed. It just baffles me all the more that after we agree on so much (Obscured by Clouds - man, I could have written the same review!, that you don't share my unrestrained enthusiasm for Ommadawn. I do have to say that I'm a huge fan of Irish folk music, maybe that's the big difference, I don't know. Even in a bad mood, calling part one a 'mess' is heresy!  The structure is nigh perfect!  The tunes are beautiful.  There's certainly more variety than in Hergest Ridge or any of the 4 sections of Incantations, but I also like the way that Mike doesn't drift too far from the main theme here - until he does something as outrageous and puckish as the jaunty folk tune halfway through, before finding his way back home again. The finale of part one doesn't just hold a candle to the finale of part one of TB, it grabs it and then torches it to the ground!  It is the most exciting and full blooded music Mike has ever performed.....well that I've heard anyway (I'm still looking for Amarok). I do agree about the beginning of part two though.  Plus it just doesn't fit with the rest of the record. Still, I guess I can't force you to love it as much as I do...... Jules -------------- I like beer and I like cheese Back to top

Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: May 26 2004, 10:56 Ah, so you have been to my site, eh? Well, I'm glad that you enjoy it. And yes, English is not my native language, but I always felt at home with it. It's strange, really. But back to the main point, well, I guess we finally found one point where we majorly disagree with each other, after all. Really, what I can say is that I would never condemn the album. I guess it's just down to a silly matter of personal taste. Like I said in my review, it can certainly resonate in many people, but it just doesn't resonate in me. I don't know why, really. I surely couldn't express a logical and rational explanation for that, so I guess this is really it - personal taste. I can fully enjoy Ommadawn as a carefully crafted and beautifully written piece of music, and is probably the best "starting point" for better understanding Mike's carreer. But the emotional impact it causes in me is smaller than the one that Tubular Bells or Hergest Ridge causes. However the emotional impact it causes on you is probably extraordinary, so I can see why you like it so much. I do! I would really never call Ommadawn a "mess" literally. I meant that in a really mean-spirited comment, and yes, I think Ommadawn is very carefully crafted and is much less of a "mess" as Tubular Bells is (wonderful mess, though! ). And the beginning of part 2 only feels tiresome if I really don't feel in the mood for it, because there's a clear pattern going there, and the work with overdubs is awe-inspiring. There are many other parts in the album that I think are truly great, too. In all, enjoy Ommadawn the way you can. If you love it and I don't, I'm the only unlucky guy in here. Oh, and I'm pretty sure you'll like Amarok. It's less rational than Ommadawn, but it's an unforgettable emotional experience! -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

raven4x4x Group: Members Posts: 1535 Joined: Jan. 2002 Posted: May 29 2004, 08:32 I agree with Sir Mustapha on this one: I've never really liked Ommadawn all that much. I can't quite describe how I feel, having not listened to it for awhile, but to me it dosen't quite seem complete, if you know what I mean, there always seems to be something missing. Prehaps I'll listen to it again and post back tomorrow. But, Sir Mustapha, do you really feel that way about the ending to Part One? That's the best bit, really mad and intense, I love it! I do agree, though, that On Horseback rules! -------------- Thank-you for helping us help you help us all. Back to top

raven4x4x Group: Members Posts: 1535 Joined: Jan. 2002 Posted: May 30 2004, 02:46 Well, having now listened to Ommadawn all the way through, I can say that I prehaps judged it a bit too harshly. I really like Part One, especially the ending but all of it is really quite good. The beginning is rather nice, and I do love the fast guitar solo. But still, its the ending that does it for me. That chant, those drums, that guitar. Unbelievable. I'm sorry to say that Part Two lets the album down a bit. I quite like Paddy Maloney's playing, and the ending again is quite upbeat. But I have to say that beginning is awful. He's just wasted five minutes with a huge drone that really goes nowhere. In many ways it is similar to the bagpipe guitars of Tubular Bells and the thunderstorm of Hergest Ridge, except with even less variation to my ears. Disagree with me if you want, but this beginning is what lets the album down. Its just five minutes of nothing. Apart from that, I am pleased to say that I quite like the album as a whole, though not to the extent that some others here do. It dosen't quite make my list of essential albums, but it is enjoyable to listen to. P.S.   I've also read your reviews site, Sir Mustapha, and they do make interesting reading. It's nice to see someone else who shares my enthusiasm for Yes and Pink Floyd, even if you do seem to hate a few of my favourite Oldfield albums. Your total hatred for Taurus II does perplex me though, when we share a lot of the same favourite albums (Amarok etc and anything by Pink Floyd and Yes). I like it: it's not my favourite but surely it's not THAT bad?   -------------- Thank-you for helping us help you help us all. Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: May 30 2004, 06:10 I wish I knew what to say in "defense" of the beginning of part 2, because I really, really like it... I feel it's absolutely an integral part of the album, and if you took it away, then Ommadawn wouldn't be Ommadawn. (Yes, I know that's a cliché thing to say...) This album is an autumn album by my perception, and this part conveys the image of a foggy plain at night or very early morning, maybe a moor, will-o-the-wisps and all. Well, not sure, sort of like that . It's a purely atmospheric kind of music. "Ambient" if you so will, although I'm reluctant to call it that. I think I can sort of see why some people don't like it... I mean quite a few people don't like Woodhenge either and I think that one is just absolutely gorgeous! I guess some people don't really see that kind of thing as 'music'... well, I don't care whether or not it is music, really, I love it! Sorry, but I'm getting slightly pissed off every time I read something like "Ommadawn is great but I don't like this part or that part". Nothing personal against anyone... I just think that what makes Ommadawn so great is that all it's parts work together in such a remarkably gorgeous way   Back to top

Jammer Group: Members Posts: 643 Joined: April 2000 Posted: May 30 2004, 06:28 Yes I agree with you, but I guess if I was asked to say what I thought of Ommadawn on the spot I'd come up with the same answer - much like Part 1 of Tubular Bells is slightly better than Part 2 However, the more I listen to it, the more I like the parts that weren't as accessible as the others. It might also be the intensity of all the overdubs that doesn't lend it an ambient feel. Some people say the thunderstorm section in HR gives them a headache (have you tried turning down the volume?) so the first bit of Ommadawn Part 2 must have the same effect Back to top

Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: May 30 2004, 09:45 George Starostin says that the intro "overstays its welcome". Perhaps other people also thing it's too long? I dunno, but maybe it would have more impact if it were 2 or 3 minutes long. Not that I think so, I really like it the way it is. -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

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