HERGEST RIDGE

The first part floats airily along in waves conjuring images of sweeping meadows filled with marigolds and weeping willows under a blue cloudy sky. It is beautiful captivating music. Then it switches gears with a pulsating bassline and passionate lead guitar playing. Choral voices are heard and pipe organs that herald the end of another day and it closes with tubular bells chiming descending into the peace and solitude of night.

Part two opens with Oldfield's acoustic flourishes over a melancholy woodwind section. Drifting peacefully over is an angelic choir, and a solitary organ like the calm before the storm. When the thunder breaks through, the music jars with discordant staccato organ that stabs through the bliss, igniting the atmosphere with flashes of distorted guitar and keyboard. So if you were lulled to sleep by part one, this will certainly wake you up. The storm passes and we are left with a tranquillity of meandering pipes and acoustic guitar. The orchestration of violin synths and guitar is beautiful after the cacophony that preceded it.

Overall this is a definitive Oldfield album and a glorious follow up to Tubular Bells.

Share this MIKE OLDFIELD review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to AtomicCrimsonRush
• Report this review (#2954252)
• 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