HERGEST RIDGE

Mike Oldfield

Crossover Prog

3.96 | 698 ratings

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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Oldfield makes light of that difficult second album syndrome

Oldfield's follow up to "Tubular Bells" was inevitably rather overshadowed by his illustrious first album. In its own right however, "Hergest Ridge" stands up as a fine piece of work.

Generally smoother and more continuous than "Tubular Bells", Oldfield manages to compile an album with a similar structure but which sounds quite different. The most striking part of the album comes about five minutes into the second side, when the almost ambient soft melody stops, to immediately be replaced by an absolute wall of sound. The pace is lifted by a driving, incessant rhythm, which thunders along like a train barely remaining on the tracks. This occupies much of the second side of the album, and transforms it completely. A more serene sound returns to close the album, allowing the required catching of breath.

A very good album, generally somewhat mellower than "Tubular Bells", but with a real sting in the tail.

Easy Livin | 4/5 | 2004-5-19

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