Mike Oldfield, 1972.
The theme music from The Exorcist, and therefore very spooky...
One of the first releases on Richard Branson's Virgin record label, and therefore seminal in the creation of a billionaire's empire...
All music performed by 19 year old Mike Oldfield, and therefore very impressive...
This album/music continues to delight, nearly 40 years after its creation.
It is a throughcomposed (moves from one section to a new one, without repeating themes/sections) 40 minute instrumental odyssey, beginning with the catchy and complex additive-rhythm ostinato that contributed to The Exorcist, and ending with, of all things, a sped-up crazy version of the sailor's hornpipe...
My favourite sections are the very beginning, and the layered section in which instruments are introduced by an MC - extremely catchy.
My reservations are that:
there are sections that feature only very briefly, and then are heard no more, making them throwaway...
some sections are not up to the standard of the others, and shouldn't have made the final cut...
the ostinato from the start doesn't recur noticeably anywhere else, wrecking the opportunity for building a sense of unity throughout the piece...
the second section takes quite a while to shape up...
what's with the grunting caveman section, whcih outwears its welcome?
In short, as an early 70s album exploring prog, layering, multitracking, and with some GREAT tunes, this album is very good.
It could have been a genuinely GREAT piece of music, to rival the Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon (prev rev) or Wish You Were Here, but it settles for second best.
Definitely worth a place in your collection, though!
9/10.
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