TUBULAR BELLS (50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION)

A return to a triumph, an obsessive one at that from Mike Oldfield. When I reviewed the 1973 original 15 years ago here I called it one of the albums you must buy before you die, and then went onto say it  remains one of the best debuts for an artist in music history, and it seems to mesmirize with every listen with hypnotic effect encapsulating all that is great about prog rock, with wierd off kilter time signatures, lengthy sections of overture, the use of a variety of instruments, and the melody that haunts. It is unforgettable and when I saw Spotify had this 50th Anni version ready to satiate my ears, I couldn't resist.

It begins with the original album, always worth a listen before indulging in the newer stuff. I still adore the section when Oldfield introduces each new instrument,  including Mandolin, glockenspiel, up to the Tubular Bells sound itself. So familiar has this theme become it brings with it instant recognition par excellence.

The 50th set features Tubular Bells 4 Intro (demo / 2017) which is nice to hear as it was previously unreleased. Then the memorable  Tubular Bells / In Dulci Jubilo (London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony) which brought Oldfield's music out in the open to an even massiver audience at the Olympics. It's been criticised as being too far removed from the original but its compelling and majestic nonetheless.

Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield & YORK remix) is a beautiful rendition of the famous theme, and captivates in its hypnotic melodies.

The Blu-ray features Tubular Bells ( David Kosten stereo mix) (25:29), though I do not own the physical version of this.... yet.

Tubular Bells 4 Intro (edit) is another previously unreleased treasure with a variation of the main theme that is rather jarring to the ear as it ascends and descends in a peculiar way. It has a soaring guitar solo also.

Finally Tubular Bells (intro / David Kosten stereo mix) is another version of the original melody that builds with multilayered keyboards and synth stabs and then guitars.

Overall this is a definitive look back at Tubular Bells that doesn't disappoint. It is a milestone for instrumental prog and catapulted Mike Oldfield into immortality as a progenitor of musical virtuosity

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