Mike Oldfield - Islands

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Music reviews of Islands

Music Review: Banish Bonnie Tyler To a Desert 'Island'
Rating: 4 Stars

I certainly understand why some of you love, and don't love, this record (I am in the former category). Our reactions to music, especially music of this nature, have a nasty tendency to be really subjective. Like our reactions to life itself.

Having said this, let's continue. Upon listening to "The Wind Chimes" (part two), I found myself dismayed at Oldfield's slamming together the various themes of the piece early on. It didn't create a good 'flow'.
But then it was like, once he got a running start, the flow gained momentum, the themes came together, and I found myself cheering wildly at the piece's climax (great metaphor, I know...)

The performances (good to see you, Tys Van Leer!) and treatments (among others, the percussion, Simon Phillips included) are first-rate, well thought out and executed.

When one gets to the end of Side One of any Oldfield disc, expecially this one, one seems to automatically become leery as to the anticipation of how he is going to try to complement what has ultimately become 'Something That Will Be Very Difficult To Follow'. (Refer to aforementioned Subjectivity.) But in this case, Side Two fares with, and does indeed, complement Side One very well. The songs, singers, arrangements, and performances are all very strong and poignant.

Then we get to Bonnie Tyler. Why, Mike, why? After an absolutely breathtaking introduction to the title track, her vocal appearance is the aural equivalent of finding a fly in the best bowl of chowder you've ever tasted. Hence only 4 stars for this CD.

Point made. Should you buy this, anyway? Sure, especially since recent editions of this CD listed on this website make it appear that we don't have to worry about Our Little Miss Judgment. If I didn't have my money already earmarked for about 50 other CD's right now, I'd catch up on this immediately. Maybe some of my reviewer friends will clue me in. Go for it.

It really is a very good disc, wart and all. Buy it. The time has come...

Description of Islands

New Age CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop
• Rock