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Tubular Bells (Deluxe Version)

Mike Oldfield

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Album Review

Mike Oldfield's groundbreaking album Tubular Bells is arguably the finest conglomeration of off-centered instruments concerted together to form a single, unique piece. A variety of instruments are combined to create an excitable multitude of rhythms, tones, pitches, and harmonies that all fuse neatly into each other, resulting in an astounding plethora of music. Oldfield plays all the instruments himself, including such oddities as the Farfisa organ, the Lowrey organ, and the flageolet. The familiar, eerie opening, made famous by its use in The Exorcist, starts the album off slowly, as each instrument acoustically wriggles its way into the current noise that is heard, until there is a grand unison of eccentric sounds that wildly excites the ears. Throughout the album, the tempos range from soft to intense to utterly surprising, making for some excellent musical culminations. Mandolins and Spanish guitars are joined by grinding organs and keyboards, while oddball bells and cranking noises resound in the distance. In the middle of the album, guest Vivian Stanshall announces each instrument seconds before it is heard, ending with the ominous-sounding tubular bells, a truly powerful and dominating instrument. The most interesting and overwhelming aspect of this album is the fact that so many sounds are conjured up, yet none go unnoticed, allowing the listener a gradual submergence into each unique portion of the music. Tubular Bells is a divine excursion into the realm of new age music. [This album was released as a four-disc special edition in 2009.]

Customer Reviews

Pros And Cons...

Of the music content one can only say that this piece from MO has more than stood the test of time. If one was around when it was first released in 1973 then the cultural significance of TB is put in it's proper context: a brave new work in a brave new time. It's importance cannot be overstated. But it's no museum exhibit. It's just as satisfying now as it was then. The new mix, though very smooth, seems to have come at the expense of some of the original's dynamic range. Which one you prefer is strictly a matter of choice and one may be grateful that both new mix and old are included in this set. Personally, the "Boxed" remix from 1976 (also included) is the last word on TB and couldn't be bettered beyond that point. Also strictly personally, the demos are a mixed bag. Interesting curiosities allowing a peek at MO's creative processes. Buyers beware, though. MO's Single and Stanshall's Drunken Hornpipe have both been newly remixed (and shortened) as well, though it is not noted on the packaging. A shame, as MO fans deserved to have these in their original glory. The nicest surprise is the original TB single edit, which is finally sounding better than any scratchy vinyl-rip mp3. But even here be forwarned... it appears to have been mastered at a slightly slower pitch, making it a semi-tone lower on the scale. Apart from these caveats, a very impressive re-release, indeed.

Biography

Born: May 15, 1953 in Reading, England

Genre: New Age

Years Active: '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s

Composer Mike Oldfield rose to fame on the success of Tubular Bells, an eerie, album-length conceptual piece employed to stunning effect in the film The Exorcist. Born May 15, 1953, in Reading, England, Oldfield began his professional career at the age of 14, forming the Sallyangie folk duo with his sister Sally; a year later, the siblings issued their debut LP, Children of the Sun. By the age of 16, he was playing bass with Soft Machine founder Kevin Ayers' group the Whole World alongside experimental...
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