OMMADAWN

Mike Oldfield's 'Ommadawn' is a huge step-up from his 'Tubular Bells', which, defying the universal laws of common sense, ranked #17 in Rolling Stone's '50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time' article. I find 'Ommadawn' to be much more structured, and because of that, more emotionally connective. Not just a drugged-out, dragged-out blob of nonsense. The first side starts off quite soft, as does the second. A short acoustic guitar section, then a descent into ambience. This is not average ambience, though. This is rhythmic ambience, something I have only observed with artists and bands like Klaus Schulze and Pink Floyd. An increasingly powerful guitar solo grows until it's crescendo, then moving into another rhythmic ambient section. Another heart wrenching crescendo, and a random transition to folky flute. This is honestly one of the most disappointing points in this album. Some other sections that aren't too notable follow. The second half of the album-long track is one beautiful menagerie of violin, bagpipe, keyboard, flute, and acoustic guitar parts that mold together to form a magical modern masterpiece. With hints of minstrel, medieval, choir, and electronic music, this side does not disappoint. Fulfills all your genre needs.

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