Customer Reviews

Light & Shade

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I own nearly all of Oldfield's albums, and some are better than others. I'm sure Oldfield fans have their favorites (which aren't necessarily my favorites--like 1990's "Amarok"). I'll say that "Light + Shade" offers some of the best music Mike has produced since 1994's "Songs Of Distant Earth". There are actual memorable melodies here like "Sunset", "Pres De Toi", "Lakme (Fruity Loops)", "Surfing", "Angelique", "First Steps", "Quicksilver" and others.

Mike Oldfield, along with Vangelis and Tangerine Dream, was one of the first pioneers of New Age/Classical music, and he's proven himself a talent. However, the creativity department has been lacking in the past decade. "Light + Shade" is a step in the right direction.

The album is greater than the sum of its individual parts. Oldfield re-utilizes "Tubuluar Bells" segments mixed strategically into some of the songs. While some might be harsh in criticizing this albums, I found that it's one of his better instrumental albums. I was disappointed with "Tres Lunas", "Guitars", "Tubular Bells 3" and "Millenium Bell", and I really wish Mike would do away with "Tubular Bells altogether because I've had enough of the different interpretations of that piece of music.

Even though "Light + Shade" is a return to form, I'd still like to see him try something new--especially after being around for 33 years. There's nothing to lose, Mike, and why not return to what you do best which is electronic pop songs. Set aside the intrumental background music and return to "Five Miles Out", "Crises", "Discovery", "Islands" and "Earth Moving" territory for a little while.

Like many other reviewers of this double-cd, I was beginning to feel that Mr Oldfield had lost his touch. Upon first listening to this album, I found it to be ok, not great, but ok. But being a die hard fan, I kept coming back to it, and it grew on me. I came to quite enjoy both cd's, especially the "Light" cd, with its standout, sensational songs "Our Father" and "Sunset". The second cd takes a few more listens, but I have come to like it just as much. Be patient folks; not every album is an instant classic! Give this one a fair chance, and if you are a fan of Mike's music, you will find yourself rewarded with lots of great tunes.

This is one of those albums that has to be heard at least 7, 8 times before it "sinks in", so to speak. At first, I was a bit disappointed, but now I think there are great songs on it. I've listened to Oldfield practically all my life and consider myself to be true fan, but realistic - of course not all of his work is great, but I've come to respect him - every one of his albums is different, and he doesn't repeat himself much. Light+Shade definately hides some "treasures", but I repeat: you have to give it a chance - listen to it a few times, and you'll start to like a song or two that you'll repeat dozens of times.

It's funny, I've been a fan of Mike's forever (I have the original Tubular Bells... on VINYL, for crying out loud), but I had been getting tired of the older sound. The sound he has on this double album is definitely a modern one, and one that really works for me. I can see some people who liked his older stuff not liking this, but it's apples and oranges, really. If you like the idea of Mike Oldfield doing electronica/trance/techno, you'll really like this album. If not... well... i wouldn't buy it. =)

I admit I like Mike Oldfield, he has, over many albums, varied his music and styles, some have been more appealing than others but I find I am rarely disappointed when a new release comes along. This is no exception. He has extended some of the tres lunas material and I know that has not been some peoples favorite. But after several listenings I am mezmerized by several songs on these two albums. I read many other reviews before buying and I am frankly puzzled that so many Mike Oldfield fans indicate they are disappointed or that this work is only fair. I find some much of this music uplifting and full of so many musical colors. Take sunset on the first cd, how awesome can a musical piece get. I crank this one up full blast in my car and listen to it repeatedly IT IS one of his best. For those who like Mike's piano, he has more piano on this set than any and it is truly beautiful. Starting with the first two songs on the first CD you are carried away in fantasy by this music. On the second cd everyone will agree quicksilver is great it grabs you and won't let go but surfing is a real trip, my kids are singing that all around the house. I really recommend this cd set. It is a bit mellower than some of Mike's past releases, the guitar work is less edgy but much of the work is more complex and totally puts you in a upbeat mood. It is worth five stars on it's own merits. I hope Mike has more of the same coming.

Mike Oldfield is one of my top ten favorite musical composers/artists, so I was very excited to see this new album. While I have found some of his recent work to be somewhat bland (e.g., Tres Lunas), this album, in my opinion, is one of his best since "Voyager" and "Songs of a Distant Earth." And, indeed, I would argue that "Light and Shade" is of a style most reminiscent of those two albums than his other works.

What I like best about Light and Shade is that I see Oldfield stretching himself musically, as opposed to some of his more recent albums which seemed largely to rehash past work. For example, my favorite piece on the two-CD set is track two of the first CD, "Blackbird." It features piano and other keyboards and is achingly beautiful in a slow and haunting way. The piano is not a key instrument in the vast majority of Oldfield's work, so this piece was a very welcome change of pace.

I agree with other reviewers that the first disc is the strongest, but that is not meant as a slur on the second disc, which I also liked quite a bit. It does incorporate more of a techno sound and beat, so it is more reminiscent of Millennium Bell in that respect.

I believe Mike Oldfield is one of the most remarkable and talented composers around today. And I would not be surprised if history finds "Light and Shade" to be considered one of Oldfield's strongest works. I personally would place it in my top 5 of his albums (along with Voyager, Songs of Distant Earth, Tubular Bells, Crises, and Five Miles Out--but PLEASE don't ask me to rank order them!)

Wow, Mike has done it again. A great listen. It is an instrumental set. Fairly mellow, but great guitar playing as usual. No disappointments in the bunch!

I've been a fan of all of Mike Oldfield's works, especially "Songs of Distant Earth" and "Tubular Bells III", and this album is no exception. The first CD moves through a gentle chillout dominated by melodic pianos and keyboards with some nice chilled beats.

There are two discs, reminiscent of Buddha Bar, disc one is entitle "Light" - containing the gentler, more melodic pieces, while disc two, "Shade", consists of heavier, more energetic and "danceable" songs.

The second disc, my favourite of the two, takes you on a musical journey unlike any Oldfield has attempted before. It is has a real club feel, but keeps its beauty - as if designed for a club in heaven. The highlight of the disc is "Surfing", which moves from an enchanting vocal section to an epic instrumental part and then back again.

The only problem I have with the entire album is some of the "whispery" vocodes, but they hardly detract from the album as a whole. All in all, "Light + Shade" is another excellent work from one of the greatest musical geniuses of our time.

Oldfield dismissed his last album of new material (Tr3s Lunas) as "chill out music for a video game" (which was included in some versions). Okay . . . so what's the excuse for two more CDs worth of the same? LIGHT AND SHADE is certainly not the nadir of Oldfield's catalog (I save that honor for EARTH MOVING), but it's not very inspiring, either. How can an album that utilizes all the latest cutting edge technology already sound dated? With it's echoes of Ibza techno thump (that Oldfield did better on parts of Tubular Bells 3)this album sounds like it could have fallen off the truck in the late ninties. And while a lot of the tracks have nice melodies (Sunset) the sense of "push a button" computerized laziness overshadows the preceedings. It's like a breath of fresh air when Oldfield's signature guitar enters the soundfield . . . a real instrument, played by a real musician.

This 2CD shows the great improvement that Oldfield has done in his recent music. It's a developing and understanding of the new technology.From the light Cd: ANGELIQUE a great opening melody, FIRST STEPS is a long composition (10 minutes), full of flashbacks of Oldfield's early compositions, SUNSET just beatiful.
From the shade Cd: RESOLUTION a Jarre's type of music, SURFING using vocaloid he makes another hypnotic song (Like Hibernaculum, Mistake, Foreing Affair, from previews works) with a Great guitar solo, TEARS OF AN ANGEL the best in both albums.
A very refreshing music