FIVE MILES OUT

This record is very progressive, full of miscellaneous instruments. Mike Oldfield begins on this album to include some new technology, especially regarding the keyboards: he plays some cute melodic keyboards, perfectly matching the numerous small bells parts; the modern keyboards are also floating and ambient. The miscellaneous percussions, provided by Morris Pert and Mike Frye, take a MAJOR part in the music. Maggie Reilly is more omnipresent than on any other Oldfield's albums: her voice, always excellent, is however sometimes slightly destroyed by some electronically modified intonations. Oldfield's straightforward aggressive electric rhythmic guitar is omnipresent.

On side 1, uilleann pipes give a solid traditional Irish flavor on the very long & progressive epic "Taurus 2" track.

On side 2, Reilly's voice on the catchy & pop "Family man" is EXCELLENT. "Orabidoo" is probably the best track: it starts with delicate, childlike & graceful percussions and keyboards; there are some curious electronic voices a la "Clockwork Orange" (Wendy Carlos); then the rhythm goes very fast and complex with a very loaded music, comparable to Amarok; it ends with only Maggie's ethereal voice, acoustic guitars and percussions. The marvelous "Mount Teide" sounds a bit like the majestic "The wind chimes part 2" on the Islands album. The last track, "Five miles out" is an original exploration of miscellaneous humor changing voices, through a solid & powerful rhythmic texture.

Rating: 4.5 stars