HERGEST RIDGE

This is pure genius - a classic, definitive, quintessential symphonic progressive rock album. Right up there with Close To The Edge, Brain Salad Surgery and Fotrot. One of the 10 esential albums to bring to a desert island, if you are going there. I know I am raving, but how can you not rave when the music is so good?

What a gorgeous, melodic, symphonic work, full of delicate melodies, and beautiful chord progressions. The orchestrations are simply splendid, with flute, oboe, live strings, and choir. Despite the overall pastoral feel, there are some very intense passages in Part II. Very atmospheric and lush. A change of pace from the frantic Tubular Bells, this album is the flipside of the "Genesis" brand of symphonic prog rock, which is very intense and densely packed. This music is more spacious and takes it's time to develop. Absolutely stunning, and probably Oldfield's best album. Will definitely appeal to fans of Genesis and symphonic progressive rock. 10 stars rather than 5.