AMAROK

The first Oldfield album since 'Crises' that I can listen to in it's entirety without getting bored.Someone described this as 'Tubular Bells one and a half' and they have a point.It follows in that same tradition and is basically a return to the instrumental side long suites that epitomised his seventies output.And it doesn't dissapoint.Mike has clearly learnt much from his foray into commercial music and is now able to enbue his music with a warmth that truly involves the listener.Whereas before you needed a degree of perseverance now the music just flows beautifully.Also Oldfield is prepared to be self effacing and not as much up himself as in earlier days when he was something of an 'upstart'.This is a mature and sometimes funny work that still displays all the man's immense talent.Highly recommended.