VOYAGER

For those who usually think Oldfield ended with the advent of the 80s: you really don't know what they are talking about. Not only he opened the 90's with one of his best and most progressive album (Amarok). He also managed to produce this jewel of celtic music, rounded with one of the better orchestral compositions i've ever listened to. 'Voyager' is split between original songs, covers of classic celtic tunes and one recent celtic song, preciselly the one that opens the album. 'The Song of the Sun' is a cover of a tune by spanish group Luar na lubre, and it sets the tone for the rest of the CD: celtic melodies trated by the epic Oldield trademark guitar (why on earth does he usually get mentioned as a keyboard oriented musician, when he almost can't play it?). Not something terribly progressive, but good nevertheless. The record sometimes can border new age (track 8, for example), and no doubt it can be seen as 'relaxing music' sometimes, but that's not a criticism. I wish all new age music could be this melodicaly interesting. But the real surprise comes at the end. 'Mount St Michael' is an absolutly gorgeous orchestral movement, with a cinematic feel. It seems as if Oldfield wanted to say: yeah, I can do that as good as anyone else. If only he returned to this and leave alone his current (and silly) trend of (ahem) 'chill out music'...