HERGEST RIDGE

This album is just as great as the debut Oldfield one. Can you imagine that only for the third time in the UK charts history, an album of the same artist will dethroned another one. In this case, Tubular Bells although released a year prior Hergest will do the work. But Hergest reached that spot straight away. First week in the charts, first position! What an achievement! Two instrumental albums from the same artist were peaking at the first position of the charts. Quite remarkable and never achieved later on.

This album doesn't have the same aura, exposure as its worldwide known predecessor. But the recipe is the same.

The ultra gifted Mike plays most of the instruments and is in full command of the composition. Some more ethnic sounds are featured here and therefore might please more (or less) his fans.

As far as I am concerned, this work is brilliant. Some great melodic lines can be experienced throughout both sides of this album. At no moment can I feel any kind of weakness during this great album (but it was the same for Tubular Bells). The choir part at the end of side one is particularly poignant and grandiose.

Lots of people did point out that the B-side of Tubular was weaker than the first part (myself included, because it is so). Nothing as such during Hergest Ridge. Just great all the way through.

To have imagined such a beautiful suite is just a mark of a giant IMHHO. Whatever will come next (I mean much later), this artist should be regarded as highly creative and essential.

Thank you very much Mike for such a great work. But he'll even superior this one. Can you believe this ?

Four stars for this excellent album.

Share this MIKE OLDFIELD review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to ZowieZiggy
• Report this review (#158533)
• Buy MIKE OLDFIELD music online with PA partners
• Show all MIKE OLDFIELD MP3/Stream
• Go to MIKE OLDFIELD page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Hergest Ridge page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for MIKE OLDFIELD related discussions