Mike Oldfield- Incantations Pt. 1 (First Listen)
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- čas přidán 8. 01. 2021
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Song Link: • Incantations Part One ... - Hudba
Wait for Part 2, 3 and 4. It's getting better, better and better. What a beautiful album.
Mike Oldfield - musical genius.
I love that you keep reacting to full albums. Incantations is one of my favorite Mike Oldfield records. A double album in which he intelligently mixes folk music with symphonic orchestral instruments. Another masterpiece.
Ty Nidels🙂
Incantations for me is Mike's masterwork. Some people find it too repetitive but that's kinda the point... very influenced by Philip Glass/Steve Reich and those kinds of composers with the multiple time signature shifts (mostly 6/8 to 5/8 in this case) and the minimal amount of material expressed in different ways e.g. Diana, Luna, Lucina sang in a cycle with each name eventually appearing in the first position. One of the few LPs that is both intellectually and emotiionally appealling to me...
The only problem I have with this tune is the dynamic. Too many sounds are competing at the same level, when some differing intensity would make much more pleasant listening.
@@bbiermanster I would imagine a more modern production would be quite amazing.. but didn't they lose the multitracks for this album?
In Part 3 you can hear the most amazing guitar solo of his career.
Yes there's a lot of Steve Reich and Glass here, I can think of works like Electric Counterpoint or Different Trains, the vocalizations are a biut like in Glass works without being that challenging. The secon third and fourth parts are quite different in my opinion, probably because of the personal changes Mike Oldfield went through during the album's composition and recording.
@@eikeharnischeh Totally agree... killed me as a 17 year old... kills me as a 52 year old..
Yes! Incantations is a massive undertaking. Can you imagine what was involved in making it? The flutes, the choirs, the strings, the percussion!! Oldfield does not disappoint, and his music continues to evolve and grow. I don't know why exactly but I think my favorite part of Incantations is the Diana choir. Something about that melody just gets me. It's powerful, ancient, spiritual. And I especially am impressed by Oldfield's use of synthesizer here. Those arpeggiations are so good, so tasty. Mike is a great keyboard player and synth sound designer, as well as an absolute guitar master.
Some say Incantations is repetitive, but that does not bother me on this album. It is minimalism done really well. There are a few central themes that are repeated in different ways, but the variations among those iterations are complex and pleasing. I don't know- I like it.
Justin you have the best reactions to Mike Oldfield, hands down. A couple of other reactors have done Oldfield on CZcams, but you elevate Oldfield to his proper place. And I don't think anyone else has done Incantations. Thank you- it is a joy to hear you react to Incantations. I can't wait for parts 2, 3 and 4! And I really think you are going to be surprised and pleased when you get to QE 2, Mike's next album after Platinum. For that matter Platinum will also amaze you- very jazzy it is. Cheers!
Everything that follows is derived from that opening stepwise chord. For Part 2 you will need Longfellow's "Song of Hiawatha" . "Hiawatha's Departure" and "The song of the Evening Star". This is his absolute masterpiece.
I have a claim to fame here. When I was a student in Gloucester, I went for a cycle ride in the Cotswlds one Sundy morning. I heard the opening vocals drifting through the air when I was near Throughham. I found my way to Througham Slad where Mike was mixing the album. I actually met him and Richard Branson, who was there for Sunday lunch. Mike actually had a ride on my 10 speed bicycle to see if it actually had 10 gears!
Alan thats awesome!
@@JustJP And that Christmas I had the album as a present. When I put the first track on, I heard those openng voices again. Whenever I listen to it, I am transported back to the Cotswolds. It's magical.
My parents taught me to be nice and polite... But.. . You one lucky #@!£*!!! :) This is the way how to raise the bike prise many times in a moment! :)
Incantations and Andreas Vollenweider´s trilogy are probably my most heard recordings of all times.
I never get tired of hearing them and will love them forever.
The first time I heard this double album I fell in love with it and it remains one of my favorite records after four decades.
Justin, I'm sure you will love the other three parts as well !
This is 100% out of the radar for every other reactor, so thanks. A number of people do TB, only Enoma did a few of his pop songs, but that's it. This piece is so trippy, the Diana section is also my favorite, love the percussion and the bass! The strings in the first section are awesome. The next album, Exposed, is live, from the tour that followed Incantations... there's a really good condensed version of this whole thing plus TB, you're going to love it.
Awesome, ty Polux!
That Indian guy is bigoted, he likes to air his prejudices as much as talk about music. I prefer people who not only say they do relevant discussions but actually do what they say as well. He even deletes comments that correct wrongful comments he makes.
Maddy Prior has a great folk voice. Steeleye Span made trad-folk rock more commercially popular in the UK than Fairport Convention and are worth listening to (the prog influenced Below The Salt and the more poppy All Around My Hat are good albums). I"m glad you chose to explore this album. Not everyone gets the way it slowly builds and weaves modern classical melodic fragments into this wide-screen windy landscape (spoiler alert: it leads to an extended vocal setting of Longfellow's Hiawatha), but I love it.
Did you know Steeleye Span's bassist nearly joined King Crimson ? This is after the 1st Crimson crumbled & before Boz Burrell joined. In fact, Kemp did joined them, for 3 days....then relented. Fripp practically begged him to stay...🚬😎
I saw Steeleye Span a few years ago. Mandy could still hit those high notes with ease.
Love this album! Utterly mesmerising throughout all 4 parts. Looking forward to the rest.
You mention the guitar playing several times. Well, the long solo on Part 3 will just melt you. Magical.
Incantations is my favourite Mike Oldfield album. Very beautiful and magical music.
The excellent drummer Pierre Moerlen of Gong/Pierre Moerlen's Gong also performs on the album, as he did on Ommadawn.
There are live clips from the Incantations tour with Oldfield performing Tubular Bells and the short track Guilty which was based on the Incantations theme.
I love Pierre Moerlen's percussion. Time is the key is his best work.
@@mickofkempston great album!!!! I am sure you have heard DOWNWIND with guest guitarist Mike Oldfield...... Incantations influence is very clear.....
I'm so glad you enjoyed this! I tend to think of this as Oldfieild's "Tales From Topograghic Oceans", for its musical exploration of spiritual themes. It's also a great album to introduce someone to minimalism. I have always thought that Oldfield was influenced by Phillip Glass on this album. I love this album for its ambitiousness, and Part II is on my desert island list (I think you'll be blown away by it). By the way, this makes great driving music!
TY Martin, it definitely is nice driving music
I'd compare it more to Awaken in the way Oldfield makes use of cycling key changes. It's no wonder he and Jon Anderson collaborated not long after this.
In was a nice surprise for me to see "Incantations" on your reaction video. When it comes to Mikr Oldfield's full length compositions, I can't truly single out favorites. I just love to sit down, listen and dissect these wonderful compositions. I will say some of Mike's most beautiful music lies within this album. His albums all show a classical influence, but I feel the strongest classical structuring on this one. Also where Ommadawn has a Celtic sense, this one shows a Native American influence. Great journey. Thanks
Ty Dennis, good points!
Absolutely fantastic album, its my go to chill out place. Mike Oldfield has to rank close to the top of all time composers, and that's a bold statement, definitely one of the top from his era.
I was seven when I heard this album for the first time. It equally was my first encounter with Mike Oldfield's music, and I immediately fell in love with it!
Mike olfield masterclass
Wonderful !!! ... Every time I listen to this album, I feel transported to another world, a world of fantasy.
When I first heard it was in 1980, I was 16 years old and I was immediately enchanted by the melodious sounds of Mike oldfield.
Justin, one of the best things about your channel is your reactions to Mike Oldfield, I haven't found anyone reacting to him as much as you do, I love your enthusiasm for Mike and his amazing music, It reminds me of how excited I was when I first started the Oldfield journey, this who album is epic.
Ty!
Mike is an amazing musician and compositor. He’s very special. Just go through Mike’s rabbit hole, a joy the journey; you cannot go wrong.
Mike is no doubts, living musical genius!
He is doing what all the classical composers have done before him.
Among all the gems, Mike has composed, Incantations is the crown jewel of all.
Despite it length, thou can't throw any note outside, because every note is so tightly interconnected and intervened, that makes whole piece incredibly coherent and whole.
Part 3 throw a bit more standard guitar playing for Mike, but Pt.4 is his highest composing achievement.
Such a mighty and overwhelming climaxes cold write just a few others...like Christian Vander form Magma.
Yessss!!! Always so satisfying to see someone listen to an Oldfield piece for the first time. I'm fairly certain you're the only person doing reactions to Mike Oldfield. I've searched before and there were sorta kinda a couple people do quick reactions but not to his whole compositions. I honestly get lost in this album enough that I don't remember which parts have my favorite parts in it lol.
I had always guessed Diana, Luna, and Lucina were goddesses of the earth, moon and sun.
That opening flute melody I think is so brilliant. The flute solo is absolutely also stunning--one of my favorite parts of Incantations, both the soft and sparse flute phrases during the Diana section and the fast solo when it returns to the opening theme. I always hear that and think, 'Wow, I've got to find out who that flautist is!' Can't believe I hadn't found out till now that one of them is Terry Oldfield!
After you've listened to the whole thing, you're DEFINITELY gonna wanna watch the live performance of this which is on YT. It's probably the very best recorded performance of his music from what I've found.
Idk if you've come across David Bedford, who arranged the choir, but he was pretty important figure in Mike's life. He was kind of a modern classical Glass-type composer who was a keyboardist in Kevin Ayers' band at the same time Mike was as bassist (they were both on the album 'Whatevershebringswesing'). It was a long time ago I read Mike Oldfield's autobiography, but I think Bedford was a bit of an older mentor or even father figure to him when he was getting into the music scene. Virgin Records wanted him to do an Orchestral Tubular bells album a couple years after TB came out, an idea Mike really didn't care for. So they had Bedford write out the sheet music for it, a symphony played it, and then they got Mike to play a guitar solo over the recording, and that was the extent of his involvement in that project lol. I actually haven't even listened to it now that I think about it--I shouldn't assume it isn't good.
Pierre Moerlen plays percussion here on this album, mostly mallet percussion, vibraphone, xylophone, etc. Not sure if he's appeared yet on part 1.--Oh yes, this must be him at 3:33 on those little bells. He was a regular member of Gong for a while (which eventually became "Pierre Moerlen's Gong"). He also plays on Steve Hillage's Fish Rising. And now I see also the tympani on Ommadawn.
This album came out at a really low point in Mike's life due to social anxiety and such. He would have rather stayed at home making music and never touring. He was also dealing with some pretty bad alcoholism. I don't remember if it was just before or after the live tour accompanying the album's release, but he went to a retreat for maybe a week or more for a somewhat controversial and novel therapy method, but it worked perfectly for him. It was really hard at first, but then he came out of it feeling like a totally new man. He started to be all outgoing and wanted to tour more (which the record label had always been bugging him to do more). Which is very much reflected in his next album, really upbeat, rock and jazz, drum-driven and such, even a bit of pop.
28:42 - I agree, it's so stately, I love it. Another brilliant piece of composition--I can't quite put my finger on what he's doing here.
My first Mike Oldfield concert in 1979 with incantations in Düsseldorf, great memories
4 album sides of sheer poetry and shamanic rhythms (incantations) Diana! Luna! Lucina! :)
I always saw the opening voices as the magic spell that awakens the world and everything in it. To me its one of this planets finest albums. ❤
Couldn't wait for this reaction! This was a Christmas present when it was first released and as always I opened the LP and sat listening to the whole thing, album sleeve in hand (something you simply HAVE to do while i remember for Topographic oceans - the included artwork and photos seem to compliment the music perfectly). Truth be told I was less impressed with this album than I had been with his previous ones. My feeling was that the material had been spread a little more thinly over the four sides. My view has changed though, and while I still consider Ommadown my favourite, this album represents the apotheosis of Oldfield's direction to date. Musicianship is of the highest calibre, it is the most accomplished performance and production of his early albums and it has a unity of composition and direction that the previous three lack (though they stand as wonderful composite pieces). Everything seems to meld together much more seamlessly (apart from a horrendous edit towards the end of the girls' choir section which must surely be a mistake). There is an astonishing video of this being played live which seems near impossible,.
Oldfiel has drifted further from folk towards systems/minimalist music and shows that - whilst we decry modern music for being loop generated, mostly as a result of popular DAWs (eg GarageBand) being designed this way - creating music based on repeated sections performed by real musicians is a valid and exciting compositional technique long before machines made it so alluring and easy. I share your love of this first side - it may be that my initial varies of the album was coloured by the subsequent sides but I will continue the journey with you and see. Might be a good idea to find a classic Steeleye Span track to hear Maddy Prior in her "natural habitat" and a fine folk singer she is. I suggest "Thomas the Rhymer" for a classic English Electric Folk track.
Every last Oldfield album is your favourite: yes, I can see that. You may break that pattern with "Platinum" but IMO it is a good album, just unable to live up to the ever-rising quality of his work and blighted by the onset of punk which destroyed so many progressive projects in the 1970/80s.
Same Christmas, same age, same present. I remember listening to Incantations with headphones at night, when everybody in the family had gone to sleep. In those prehistoric times, we were used to focus on the music with no distractions, apart from the double cover opened on our knees. Though I was already into Post Punk, I was enchanted.
"Incantations" is my favorite Mike Oldfield album. "Tubular Bells II" is my probably second favorite.
That's why you are so special and unique, and the reason that we are here, because you are reacting to albums that NO ONE reacts... And you got an aditional plus, your final analysis is so great to listen!!! I'm waiting for the 13.000 suscribers and enjoy the Topographic reaction!!!
AGREE! 🙂
Ty so much ono🙂
My favourite Mike Oldfield album. I loved your expression at around 11 min into the video. I get the same one on my face. That rumbling percussion overlayed by female voices is almost a signature. There's an amusing part at the start of Amarok when this idea starts after a series of changing patterns, and Mike's voice comes through over the top and says "Happy?". So glad you liked Part 1. The journey to the end is worth it. Terry Oldfield is a great flautist but a word of warning before getting into his music - his discography is huge!! BTW - I agree with you, Oxygene is a classic. If your family thought that was a bit alien sounding, play them Equinoxe Part 5 for a real trip.
This is in my humble opinion certainly one of the greatest albums of all times - just brutal hypnotic hardcore "epic circular staircaise" minimalism! :-)
Greatest album opening ever imho. Greatest album also.
Saw the performed live at Wembley, with band, choir and orchestra when I was 15. My father drove me and 3 friends to London, slept in the car whilst we went to the concert and then drove us home. We were in the 2nd row, absolutely brilliant.
Many thanks for reviewing this great album! I bought Incantations at 12 after a steady diet of Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn. It didn't leave my record player for weeks. To echo the comments below - a true masterpiece.
Happy to!
Your initial comments about the apprehension and uneasiness about approaching something new is exactly what Oldfield fans have felt each time he releases a new album - mainly because after Incantations the quality does vary quite wildly - and each time you want and hope for greatness and sometimes it's only good or (in one or two cases) poor. Sometimes it's back to wow! which is what keeps fans coming back each time.
This is the mark of every artist I feel - I don't know of any that over the course of such a long career has always produced exceptional work.
From here you get different fans - the die hards who love just about everything, some who just stick to the long sided instrumentals and some who prefer what is to come: the pop/rock combination.
Incantations was probably the 5th album of his I heard - out of sequence - in the 1980's and like you - I got wrapped up in that all encompassing rich sound. This is not background music - despite it's so called minimalism label. It is repetitive but just enough is added or changed in each repetition to hold interest and to some pay off.
The increased use of synth is beautifully balanced with classical and acoustic instruments (Mike is an unsung champion of synths; compare what JMJ was doing with his at the time and then what Oldfield does on top of all the other instruments he uses... and his compositions knocks JMJ out of the park!)
The use of musical rounds, which started in Ommadawn, is peaked on this album. The call and answer motif's with either 1 instrument (Trumpet) or 2 (guitar and synth) becomes a trade mark which never really goes away - sometimes works well- sometimes seems lazy - you'll get to see eventually ;-)
The musical landscape was changing heavily in the UK by this time - and this huge classical style double album was really at odds with the emerging punk rock scene and although Oldfield went on to tour this album (with a huge band/orchestra) to great acclaim it marks the end of one era and the start of the next.
So good to see you doing Mike Oldfield reaction - Incantationss is wonderful.
Ty Jayne!
I bought this on cassette tape when it first came out. Great music to chill out to. Maddie Prior's vocals are mesmerising.
Another winner. I could listen to songs like this all day.
Great review, great song.
Thanks.
Nice to see that you are becoming a real fan of Mike. Welcome to the club!
Happy to be here!
JUSTIIIIIN.👏👏🥂🌷🇬🇷💙THANK YOU
Mike Oldfield was one of my early recommendations for you to listen - so great to see how you enjoy his work. It has always been the most impressive aspect in his compositions how he combined so many different sources and styles of music, he's a genius of a very special way. Incantations is definitely a masterpiece; I strongly recommend to watch the live performance (recorded in 1979 and released on DVD in 2005; you can find the videos on YT as well). I cannot wait watching you listening to pt. 2 to 4 - of which the latter is the most impressive and particularily the final section is just overwhelming.
Shows my age, but I was fortunate enough to see the live performance in London back in 1979. It was monumental: Mike with his band and singers (including Maddy Prior and Pierre Moerlen) and an orchestra. They played all four parts of Incantations and the whole of Tubular Bells.
Whoo, high-five fellow early-Mike-Oldfield-recommender!
@@gaiaeternal5131 SUPER jealous! I can hardly think of a better show to go to. I'd say that's the best available recorded performance of his.
@@gaiaeternal5131 well, age-wise I could've been there too, but used to live on the other side of the Iron Curtain. However, nowadays it's impossible to travel and enjoy live concerts for other reasons ...
And ty so much for recommending him!
Part 2 follows this classical music, Part 3 is probably the more progressive piece of the album and Part 4 is very minimalist but really really good. Mike toured for the first time for this album too and he played Ommadawn and Tubular Bells Live too on the live album Exposed (1979)
Ommadawn is not on the album but it was played ni the tour. Exposed is great. My first exposure (pun unintended) to Incantations was from it.
I saw him at Wembley, brilliant
I'm so pleased to discover you and see that you're going through Mike's entire discography in order! Can't wait to watch the rest of your reactions. There are indeed not many Oldfield reactions on YT. :D
Love your expressions when Oldfield’s music hits you,his music is so full of surprises..
Quality seems to attract quality here!
JP, your comments are so unique and interesting, I get to listen to the pieces anew although I have known them and loved them for years.
AND, many experienced listeners and aficionados commenting here, which makes great reading.
Great channel!! ♥️
Ty Hilde! Yes, the comments here are full of knowledge, background and experience
SO happy that you're going through this Mike Oldfield journey and loving it!
I went through the same journey decades ago... and his music is truly timeless.
This album is fantastic... and I hope you'll continue... (and I want to put in a special word for an album that a lot of Oldfield fans don't talk about enough: QE2. It's my all-time favorite... the perfect mix of his his longer epic work, and his shorter pop pieces you'll eventually get to... Medium size pieces that are absolutely sonic perfection.)
Thank you, Justin!
Ty John! I'm loving the journey!
Wow!!! Never heard this. Gorgeous, Mike Oldfield is way deeper than I ever knew. Back to the Canterbury, you gotta hear "Mumps".
Great work. Haven't heard it in quite some time. That's gonna change pretty soon. Thanks for reminding!
Anytime Rien!
Absolutely gorgeous side of Mike Oldfield heaven butty. 😊. It's trance like.. ❤️ The beautiful strings add so much to the overall sonic landscape Mike paints butty. Even though, there's no acoustic guitar on this.. It still sounds amazing imho. ❤️
Tge flutes, and arpeggiated synths are dreamlike in their composition Justin 😊 ❤️
The choir comes in, and them acoustic drums.. Oh my god.. Utterly mesmorizing butty..
I remember this album, didnt have a great reception when released.. Much like Hergest Ridge butty.. But.. Over time, they, imho are essential listening when it comes to Mike's work.. Genius imho. ❤️
And, no, no one is doing Mike Oldfield material butty.. Sad tbh butty. 😊
You wonder why, i prase your channel so much Justin.. Its creme de la creme of reaction channels butty.. Don't you forget it. ♥️ ♥️ ♥️
Have a wonderful day Justin 😊
So good! I’m usually not a fan of children’s choirs but this was a wonderful use of it. I’m discovering Mike Oldfield right along with you. I was familiar with tubular bells but I never went any further in my explorations of him. Keep going I’m enjoying the hell out of this and I’m purchasing each album as I go along lol.
I actually studied this album in school, long time favourite. The up-5 down-1 cycle of the voices in the intro - I think they're derived from the harmonics of the guitar - drive the cyclical key changes and all the repeating patterns. Makes you focus when you follow the revolving keys and jumpy time signatures, while still remaining ethereal and transcendent. Rich listening.
Interesting, ty for that Michael
11/8 (6+5) at the beginning. You are a very brave man for publicly venturing into this alien musical world. Great reaction. Thanks! This is music that heals and we need even more now. Thankfully there is a video document from these concerts which is sublime.
Ty Jim!
YEEEEEEEEEES!!!!! My most loved album by Mike!!!! Loooooooooooooooove it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Justin!!!!!
Your welcome!
I LOVE your review/impressions!!! From the first time I listened to Tubular Bells in 1977 to the present he surprises and amazes me! You don't know where you're headed when you listen to one of his albums for the first time!
Wow, really good Lp. A lot of Ommadawn features in this Thanks for playing, hadn’t heard this before 🎼🎧🎼
The symphony structure
1st movement - allegro (fast) in sonata form.
2nd movement - slow.
3rd movement - minuet (a dance with three beats in a bar)
4th movement - allegro.
Makes so much sense, ty
When it comes to your song selection and reactions, my mantra is "Trust the Process". I would not normally search out this genre of music, but if you're giving it a listen I am going to come along for the ride. For this song and reaction I'm glad I did. Great analysis as always!
Watch the video, too.
Well ty Michael!
Pure quality! The layering, the varation in themes and instruments, the emotional journey. A true masterpiece. At first listen looks repitetive, but at every repetition something changes and the beautiful melody remains. I hope at some time you will listen to the album : Mike Oldfield, The Complete from 1985. It contains orchested live work as well as a superb selection of his works up to 1985. I realy like how you react and ‘feel’ this music. Keep going on the M. Oldfield track and we will all see the smile and joy as you listen to it.
Ty Alfred
Goodness. All the best on your way through this. Though it is a bit bloated and is built very much on repetitive patterns (especially parts II and IV) this is a miraculous piece of work. Artistically up there with Tubular Bells.
To me this sounds like Oldfield was very influenced by modern composition/minimalism here. His last real magnum opus. After this he looked for more commercially appealing formats for several years - with mixed results...
In part I, I especially like the flute and synth-parts.
Great analysis/reaction from you.
And yes, Steeleye Span were a great folk-rock band (one of their albums having been produced by a certain Ian Anderson). You'll clearly hear the Shaman/native American influence in part 2.
I agree, this is last great Oldfield album.
Ty Murdock!
Went to a Mike Oldfield concert in early 80s in Chicago in support of 5 Miles Out lp and I wanted to jump out of my skin ! One of the most incredible interesting concerts I have ever experienced. Great musicianship including Pierre Moerlein on drums who sadly has passed away and headed the great band Gong . Highly recommend that band while I have your attention. Welcome to great music and thanks!
Wow damn the voices are just incredible, i'm now a absolute fan of Mike Oldfield's works. So trippy...
Absolutely brilliant album choice and I live 2 miles away from Througham Slad Manor where in 1977 Mike recorded in his home studio.
My Friend im waiting Your listen Amarok by Mike Oldfield xD hahhahah
A lovely afternoons listening. Nice summing up JP. David Bedford's contribution should not be overlooked, a very clever orchestrator and conductor. He and Mike played together on the early albums of Kevin Ayers.
This is my favourite Oldfield album, it's the one I come back to. This is the only reaction video to this that I have seen.
You talked about it like going into a room and never wanting to leave. I entered this room in 1978 and I've never wanted to leave since. This is Oldfield's pinnacle.
There's dozens of us in the room!😄
I have loved this album for years ! 1st heard it in the early 80s on vinyl. Bought the early cd so disappointed to see part 3 cut down. Got the deluxe cd . Brilliant!!!
I love mikes work..ive seen him many times and went to three shows on the tour to promote incantations.
Two sides are superb
And two i find very difficult...hiawatha section comes to mind.
But still its great to see you do this album.
Its challenging at times.
I first listened to this on a very long train journey in the 80s and have been transfixed ever since. I think it's perfect for the rhythms of a train: try it.
Part 4 is going to blow your socks off
🧦
I remember when I first bought this album and listening to it, I also thought it could easily have been the third part of Ommadawn. Great stuff!
Incantations is one of my favorites.
The thing is, he had the same instruments as anyone else, but you can tell a Mike Oldfield lead guitar anywhere. the Tone, the scales, the technique are unique, and when he changes to something different that you would have never predicted, you kinda knew he was going to do it. His first 5 albums followed a formula, or an algorithm if you will.
Great to hear this and looking forward to the rest next... Also check out the funky disco song GUILTY which is built around Incantations Part 1. There are a couple of versions, which also feature Stevie Winwood on synth! I'll share your videos on the Mike Oldfield facebook pages.
Probably the most nostalgic enducing album for me. I haven't listened to it since the early 80s. When I was still a teenager I used to still build scale models or do other nerdy stuff (painting Lord of the rings figures long before it was cool f.ex.), I would put a record on the record player and let it run the whole time on repeat. So I would listen to the same record side for hours before it bothered me and go to flip the record or even chose another album. To do that you really need high quality music and the side effect of it is that it burns in your mind a permanent link between the music and what you felt or lived at that time. So I have a whole collection of albums that are automatically linked to specific periods.
As most albums I still listen regularly today (early Genesis, Yes, Camel, Grobschnitt, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra etc.) the nostalgia effect fades slightly.
With Incantations it hit me extremely hard as it's the first time I listened to it after nearly 40 years. I'm almost in tears bonding with those better times when my parents and my brother and sister still whiled among us.
Thank you Justin.
Glad you enjoyed it. I wonder if you'll feel quite so enthusiastic about the 'hymn to Diana' section when you're halfway through part 2.
I'm pretty confident that Maddy Prior's contribution will persuade you to give Steeleye Span a listen. 'Please To See The King' is one of the finest albums any band from any genre released during the early 70s.
We'll find out!
Even though there is a fully orchestrated version of TUBULAR BELLS, conducted by his longtime collaborator and friend, David Bedford, INCANTATIONS to my knowledge is his first foray of incorporating a full string section into his compositions. Inspired by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem "Hiawatha", I would urge you to hear the spellbinding live version of this that's included on his album, EXPOSED, just for comparison's sake. Either way, Maddy Prior's lilting vocals are what really tie it together at the end of Part One.
Wait until you get to the guitar arpeggios and solos in the latter half of this album.... :D
Très bel album. Et attendez d'entendre le solo de guitare dans la partie 3 qui révèle le niveau de jeu exceptionnel de Mike Oldfield ! Notez que le premier mouvement de la partie 1 est signé en 11/8 (La plupart des musiques que nous connaissons sont en 4/4 ou 3/4) Le 11/8, utilisé généralement dans le Jazz, est très difficile à suivre et demande un parfait sens de la mesure pour l'improvisation. Les autres mouvements sont signés en 4/8, puis en 4/4. Ces changements de signatures rythmiques dans Incantations sont du plus bel effet et d'une efficacité redoutable. A savoir que le célèbre thème d' introduction de Tubular Bells est signé en 15/8... Réussir à envouter les auditeurs avec des rythmes élaborés sans que personne ne s'en rende compte, c'est l'un des traits de génie de Mike Oldfield.
Now you have found the door to minimal music, it’s time for Steve Reich’s Music for a large ensemble. Wonderful colors, tones and soundscapes. It is what you are looking for, Justin!
Wow...
Prior to going on Justin's Mike Oldfield journey through his albums in sequential order, I knew the entirety of Tubular Bells, but that was it for Mike Oldfield. I've enjoyed Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn, but neither of them really caused me to sit up and take notice.
Part 1 of Incantations, though. As a fan of Philip Glass' Qatsi trilogy, both the albums and the films, I really enjoyed the minimalism and repetition of this piece.
Incantations indeed!
I'm looking forward to discovering parts 2 through 4 via the next reactions.
(also shared to by Facebook time line with the same comment as my caption)
Ty Illume! Glad youve enjoyed this one!
The names sung are all variants of the classical goddess of the moon, and thecircumstances under which you might hear someone incant "Diana, Luna, Lucina" followed by "Lumen, lumen, lumen" would be under a new moon: with your speakers being earnest white witches doing whatever they deem necessary to keep the lunar cycle going. The full poem was written by Valerie Worth (unless she just curated something that already existed into her work) - in whatever form Mike saw it, it was not the last lunar influence he had!
It’s so uplifting and refreshing after the heavy Ommadawn.
On that apprehension: same thing here when I started as a pianist for a church choir. I never went to church before that, I’m not religious. But they asked me and I have serious issues with saying no. Besides, I was curious and the music is enticing. Scared? Yep. Live audience, intricate music and I’m not a believer. Oh dear. Now we’re two decades on and I play in, what, three or four churches at once. The warmth, the communal feeling, sometimes the transcendence, yeah: home. I’m still not religious, but I love the people there like my kin. Incantations is a bit like that: alien at first, but then you get comfy
The intro, in the very beginning ? Reminded me of the intro for Tarkus....🚬😎
I think it sounds similar to Frank Zappa's Uncle Meat Variations
@@richardfurness7556 Cool ! If you dig Zappa & The Mothers ? You should consider getting the 4 CD set "Carnegie Hall", from their shows there in '71. Even the openers that night, The Persuasions, are included- good stuff, not great...
But yeah, both shows (early & late sets) are included in a nice package. FZ, Flo & Eddie, Ian Underwood, Don Preston, Jim Pons & Aynsley Dunbar. Amazingly, parts of Joe's Garage are found at the beginning of the 2nd show. Not a top shelf recording, mind you, but perfectly acceptable & totally entertaining...🚬😎
Yes, Tarkus intro, my thoughts exactly.
I was thinking Pirates.
first time in ages I've heard Incantations... went to see this live at Wembley Arena
Nice! How was it?
@@JustJP was my first ever concert I was 18... I remember Maddie Prior dancing barefoot in the aisles
ps couple of suggestions for you... 1 - the king of elfland's daughter.. a concept album 2- Rick Wakeman, Journey to the Centre of the Earth and 3 - Sparks first ever hit album, Kimono my House
Oh yes, epic album, Oldfield's last great album, not many bad passages on it. Everything sounds a little artificial after Incantations and less organic.
Maybe except Amarok. That one sounds like an entire organic forest on steroids
@@rienvandijk2288 I couldn't get into it. It lacked the beauty of his other albums. Just because it's 2 fingers up to Branson and the Music industry doesn't make it enjoyable.
@@FLASHAHOLIC_TV my feeling too... I was so disappointed in pretty much everything after Incantations... really wanted to like Platinum but that was the last one for me.
Sequential is the right way to go.
Welcome to the Incantations family, JP! For today, I will just add a voice to those of the wise folk advising you to stopover in Exposed at some point in your journey.
Capolavoro assoluto
Part 1 and 2 are a ritual.
Diana.
Luna.
Lucina.
Lumen.
The child is born.
The moon and the sun giving birth to a new day.
Roland SH 1000 synth or SH 2000, depending on the source. Most say Roland SH 1000. He also used a reel to reel recorder as a preamp to distort the guitar sound. :)
Terry Oldfield really is on full flight when he starts to play variations on the theme in the reprise. He is a composer and solo artist on his own right.
Mike Oldfield went on tour with 40 piece orchestra playing shortened versions on this albums' tracks, "Tubular Bells" and then new single "Guilty", which was Oldfield's take on disco. The result was both filmed and recorded, the double album is called "Exposed". On "Exposed" there's one of his best guitar solos which is featured on Part IV, over vibraphones.
After listening to this, I was inspired last night to start figuring out the opening flute part for piano! I've figured out just the flute melody so far--it's so satisfying to really look at what he's done, now that I'm playing it--and now I'll have to make some equivalent for the left hand to do the strings. I'll see how much of Pt 1 I do!
Nice Nick!
Mike's music at it's best is like the best healthy drug you can take. It's like falling in love with yourself lol
I love the timbre of those hand claps or whatever he uses in this. Lovely wooden hits.
I'd not heard this before - wasn't sure what to make of it first off although listening to the excerpts you went back to, there's a lot of depth here and I think it will need a few listens for me to really appreciate it. The section at 4:55 sounds like a mix of Emerson, Lake and Palmer's 'Pirates' with Yes's The Ancient.
I knew you would come back to Mike,just like I know you will check out John Gomm! Because I said an Incantation and put a 'Spell On You'!Peace and Health from another J.P.
28:21 that’s actually a synth (Roland SH-2000 which Mike used extensively on this album and the next few). Mike also used a very early (arguably the first) digital sequencer to create those whooshing synth sounds you mentioned earlier. Nice to see someone discovering Mike’s wonderful music for the first time...something I did back in the 80s/90s. Enjoy it JP 👍
I think those fast arpeggio whooshes are also on the SH2000... I recall the 1979 concert had the keyboardists playing those sequences manually... Mike would probably slow down the tape to half speed and play them in... he did that for the Blue Peter theme.
@@neilloughran4437 you could be right, half speed recording was one of his trademarks. I know he used an EMS Universal sequencer on the album though along with the SH2000, ARP 2600 and the Solina string ensemble.
@@benmarshall404 I've never actually seen a gear listing for this LP. Good to know.... I believe he used the ARP2600 on Ommadawn so it makes sense.
@@neilloughran4437 There’s a complete gear listing on tubular dot net...this is just the synth timeline but other gear is on there too.
tubular.net/instruments/?by=synths
@@benmarshall404 there is definitely sequencing at play on Pt 2 though!
Lot of collaborations w/the late David Bedford. Need to check out some of the Bedford songs w/Mike Oldfield, such as excerpt from "Star's End" or "First Excursion" (found on Mike Oldfield's "Boxed" a;bum set).
Mike Oldfield’s brilliant guitarplaying can also be heard on David Bedford’s Instructions for Angels (title song) and Pekka’s The Mathematician’s Air Display (title song).
There are reaction channels that do cover one song of Mike Oldfield's nuclear, because it was used for a trailer of a game metal gear solid phantom pain. It's a shame they only know that one song, but as least Mike Oldfield has made a mark on the non intiated.
There is an album before Incantations. It was part of the Mike Oldfield box set though, called Collaborations. Love your reaction to this and looking forward to the other parts 😁
Oooooh, Richard Branson hated the Incantations album and told Mike to disco it up. This was the first of many trolling that Mike did over the virgin years and made Guilty, which is basically a 4 minutes version of what you just reacted to.