Incantations [Original recording remastered]

Mike Oldfield | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 20, 2011)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B0052WKZVA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,205 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The music of Mike Oldfield is some of the most spiritual, ethereal, reflective and sensual in rock. Oldfield himself created his own genre with his groundbreaking 1973 work, Tubular Bells, and has continued to craft highly individual works to this day which have built him a loyal international following. When Oldfield's Virgin catalogue moved to Mercury in 2008, the label has worked closely with him to ensure the highest standard in revisiting his masterworks from the 70s and 80s. Incantations, originally released in November 1978 was Oldfield's first and only studio double album. Comprising of four parts of the title track, it was a masterpiece of minimalism, with Oldfield again playing many of the instruments, with old friends including David Bedford conducting the choir and orchestra, Pierre Moerlen on drums and Mike's sister Sally on vocals. Remastering was overseen by Oldfield himself

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A trip to another dimension, August 26, 2003

By 

Mike Chadwick (Gdynia,Poland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Incantations (Audio CD)

while on his first three albums ("ommadawn","hergest ridge","Tubular bells") Mike was practising his folk-rock-progressive style, here he creates a real Rock symphony.
77 minutes ("ommadawn" was lasting 36 minutes...) of a huge and bombastic rock-opera based on a poems of Ben Johnson and Longfellow (english 18 century poets) and his own experiences (in the time Mike had gone though Exegis therapy because of his psychical problems).
Whole album sounds much different than anything he had made through the next years of his career.Guitar that was so charactereistic in his earlier records is hidden here on second plan.Massive choir,orchestral arrangments,synths and opera sounds are dominating in "part 1" and "part 2".they all give album a bit Film music or classical music taste.
During last 8 minutes of "part 2" Maddie Pryor (from Steelaye span band) is singing the "Hawaiatha" poem with the background of Jabula african drums band and etheric vibraphone part (Pierre morlen from Gong,he will collaborate with Mike in the later years too).This part is hypnotising listeners because of monotoic Vocal intonations and very spiritual atmosphere...
but i save all the honours for "part 3" and "part 4" which are in my opinion one of Mike's finest instrumental works in in his whole Career.
"Part 3" starts with a cheerfull Fanfare medieval motive...but suddenly starts the maginficent long Guitar solo section...African tribal Drums are again on background along with gentle Bass riff and synths...the raw and moving Gitar solo is one of hte moments that can brought tears into your eyes because of a imposible beauty that lies underneath it.later staright to the end "part 3" goes into the nice seventies rocker with nice drums and guitars...
"part 4" is much more experimental - etheric and mysterious Vibraphone part dominates here...i have to mention also the another tribal drums section with a rhythmical Bass guitar riff and charming Guitar solo...the ending is a All time Oldfield Classic - Maddie Pryor singing "ode to diana" along with a bit christmas-like melody.guitar solo is wonderfull.....
This is definitly a magical album...takes you to a different world of ancient tribes and distant planets...it is one of the most impressive and timeless instrumental albums ever...77 minutes of pure pleasure.definitive must have for all rock fans!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Enchanting Watershed, December 4, 1999

By 

Kosh the Vorlon "Kosh" (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Incantations (Audio CD)

It's difficult to describe this album; it's not quite like his earlier works (Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge, Ommadawn) but yet notquite like those that came later (such as Platinum and QE2). Although I have to say it's not one of my *most* favourite MO albums, I still find myself compelled to listen to it from time to time, especially the final track (Incantations 4). For anyone who is a serious fan of Mike Oldfield, I have to recommend this. For those who are just beginning their voyage along the Oldfield path, then I'd recommend that you listen (or buy!) Ommadawn and/or Hergest Ridge first....then the orchestration on this album will make more sense. Five out of five nevertheless!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but repetitive, April 26, 2004

By 

James H. Kidder "jimpithecus" (Knoxville, Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Incantations (Audio CD)

When this album came out, it was a double LP. It probably should have been condensed into one album. This release has some of the best sections of Oldfield music in existence, mostly contained in Parts 1 and 3. Many other parts of the album are, however, very repetitive and grate. The Song of Hiawatha poem in part 2 is quite nice but, once again, goes on too long. This CD is certainly worth picking up, if nothing else for the first and third parts. Even these are repetitive in places, however. This is nothing like the tightly constructed Platinum that followed it.