INCANTATIONS

Oldfield's first double album sees him offering his own "Tales from Topographic Oceans". There are four tracks, each occupying a side of an LP. Although completely different albums in terms of style and content, there are a number of parallel's with "Tales..". At over 72 minutes, this was until recently Oldfield's longest ever studio album. The inspiration for the lyrics comes from works of literature, with a bit of Latin thrown in. Probably the best known of those works is American poet Longfellow's "The song of Hiawatha". Oldfield does not use the entire poem, preferring to mix extracts with those from other works which provided the inspiration for the piece. There is a long, detailed analysis of the lyrics on Oldfield's official web-site.

For the album, which was the first to be recorded at Oldfield's new home in Througham, Oldfield called upon the services of a number of well known musicians to assist him. These included Maddy Prior (vocalist with UK folk rock group Steeleye Span), Pierre Moerlen (Gong), Oldfield's sister Sally (a successful singer in her own right), the African drums of Jabula (who previously played on "Ommadawn"), and the Queen's college Girls Choir. Oldfield also produced and engineered the album. Whether the assertiveness course he took during the period of the recording helped him to keep the whole thing together is not documented!

The four parts are simply entitled "Incantations parts 1 to 4", with no subtitles or sub-sections to the tracks. Part one is based around repetitive themes, which intertwine and build in a similar way to part one of "Ommadawn". Some effective trumpet interjects briefly from time to time, the track incorporating a wonderful repeating choral vocal rendition.

Part two sets off quietly and serenely in a "Hergest ridge part 2" sort of way, the main theme first appearing innocuously as what appears to be a reed organ theme. The "Diana" theme from Part one returns as a lament gently building with rippling accompaniment and flute themes before bursting forth as an emphatic tribal chant. Tom toms then signal the migration to the "Song of Hiawatha", and the divine vocals of Maddy Prior which occupies the latter half of the track. Once again, this vocal section is more of a repeating chant or theme than a song as such.

Part three begins as more orthodox Oldfield, with a lengthy guitar rendition which draws in the main themes of the album. In another ironic parallel with "Topographic oceans", this the third part is the weakest of the four.

The final section opens with a Wakeman like piano recital followed by some fine vibraphone played by Pierre Moerlen, once again picking up the main themes. The track builds and weaves, driven on by ever soaring guitar, until a lone xylophone pulls things back to a basic theme to begin the final assault. This consists of a shortened reprise of the vocal section of part two featuring Maddy Prior.

Whether or not you enjoy this album depends to a large extent on your appetite for repetition. The truth is, while "Incantations" has strong themes, there are fewer of them than might be expected. The diversity of sound through the use of different instruments and vocals certainly offers variety, and serves to disguise the repetition well. For me, "Incantations" sits among Oldfield's stronger albums, but slightly below his best. Well worth a listen though.

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