INCANTATIONS

Mike Oldfield

Crossover Prog

3.96 | 556 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

I've listened to Incantations for the first time after many years. (In fact I did listened to the shortened live version of Incantations from the Exposed album).

I remember that when Incantation first came out, there was a load of expectations on it, everyone was curious to see what would be Oldfield's next step after Ommadawn. The two major radio stations in Israel (Reshet Gimel and Galaz) broadcasted the whole thing, double album when it came out, in prime time! Certainly those where different and better times for radio, as well as for progressive rock.

As a teenager at that times, the repetitions surprised me and where quite annoying. Although unexpectedly it was beautiful, haunting and addictive. Since than, we all got used to tones of repetitions, at 90s music, electronic, trans, drum n base etc... So compared to this kind of music, the Incantations repetitions are quite bearable and besides there is the beautiful music and reach orchestration.

The main idea in Incantations is one main theme that goes over and over again with various instrumentations, along with another themes.

Part I features the wonderful flute by Terry Oldfield with mesmerized improvisations along with the African drums and strings. I love most the middle part, with the drums, handclapping and pipe, this completely throw you to another world, WOW!

Part II is the spaceiest one, with choir, strings, and Oldfield's guitar. The second part of part ii is the song sung by Maddy prior. The same tune, again and again. Boring? Not really, with the excellent marimba, the light strings back round, and the floor of the African drums.

Part III is rockier, features kind of a band, performed by Oldfield and Pierre Moerlan on drum kit. Opened with more tight and short structure, more song oriented. The middle part is the repetitive part, with grate guitar solos by Mike Oldfield. Long but beautiful.

Part IV starts with folk harp (maybe Celtic), continue with wonderful vibes of Pierre Moerlan playing the main theme, and the end is the climax, sally and Maddy sings together the main theme.

All in all, this is a very haunting peace of music. Long in terms of the 70's, not long in terms of today, where many disk takes about 70 minutes long, with long tracks. Repetitive? Definitely. Proggers who just can't stand repetitions keep away from this album. Other proggers who could stand this, maybe progressive electronic fans or kraoutrock fans should definitely give it a try. Mike Oldfield fans wont miss this one, Oldfield at his most ambitious work.

ShW1 | 4/5 | 2006-9-15

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