Mike Oldfield - Discovery

Excellent

"Discovery" was the album that instigated my life-long love of Mike Oldfield's music.

I started with this album, went backwards and purchased the old stuff, then went forward with his new releases. What else can be said about this man that hasn't already been said? He constantly reinvents himself. When you start with the legendary "Tubular Bells" and listen to his albums chronologically, you can see how he changed, grew, and morphed his style.

"Discovery" is a little more mainstream that Oldfield's earlier works, a trend that would continue in the years to come, but despite being recorded in 1984, you can listen to the album today and it would still fit in and not sound dated. Plus, there's always the instrumental "The Lake" to remind everyone that Oldfield is not just a great songwriter, he's an excellent composer and performer as well.

Some of my favorite tracks are "To France", "Tricks of the Light" and "The Lake".

Truly wonderful and timeless. April 15, 2008

Superp, one of my 20 favorite albums.

This album is one of my all time favorites. I'm a huge Mike Oldfield fan, and this album got it started. This album includes some of Mike's best vocal pieces, using haunting vocals and sythezisers, and powerful guitars. The vocals of Maggie Reilly is breathtaking as usual. Even the male vocal pieces here are excellent. There is not a single track I don't like on this album. "The Lake" is a beautiful instrumental piece that will take you out of this world. "To France", "Tricks of the Light","Poison Arrows", "Discovery" and "The Lake" are my favorite tracks. The emotion of this album is very high, with some strong melodies. I find the guitar play of Discovery are especially powerful.
A fan of Mike and Maggie would surely buy this album, but I suggest there is great reason for people unfamiliar with his work to invest in this album as well. It shows Mike's great range and talent, and give a very original sound that leaves you wanting more. This album will appeal to both the emotional, spiritual and intellectuals. A nice blend of Ambient Rock, popular and instrumental, with an ageless feel to it.
If you want an Oldfield album that shows a the range of Mike's work, I suggest you buy "the complete". If you want his instrumental masterworks buy "Tubular Bells" or "Amarok". But if you want his best songs, and I might at Maggie's best as well buy this album. It has left me spellbound. July 19, 2006

Aww, how cute! Cutesy cutesy! Eeee!

"The Lake"... Aww, so cute, like one of those Windows desktop wallpapers with little puppies! It is called "The Lake", and it sounds like a lake! And it has an "(instrumental)" label on its name, to let all hardcore fans know that he's still the same Mike Oldfield of Tubular Bells fame!

But seriously, I never cared about "The Lake" that much. The actual songs here are far better. "To France", "Tricks Of The Light" and "Poison Arrows" are some of his finest pop compositions ever. Maggie Reilly's vocals are as gorgeous as ever, and Barry Palmer's delivery is quite convincing and unique. The ballad "Talk About Your Life", the 80's pop "Crystal Gazing", the 'rocker' title track and the power ballad "Saved By A Bell" are all good to some extent. Easily one of Mike's best collections of pop songs, seconded only by the side 2 of Crises.

"The Lake"? How does that one go again? July 19, 2004

A LOVELY LITTLE CD

I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS ALBUM & I THINK IT IS A LOVELY ALBUM TO HAVE PLAYING WHEN U ARE CHILLING OUT. THE LAKE IS A GREAT INSTRUMENTAL, TO FRANCE AND POISON ARROW ARE GREAT SONGS. I CANNOT FAULT ANYTHING ON THIS ALBUM. April 7, 2004

Another solid rock album by Mike Oldfield...

This is a rocking album - while on "crises" mike was experimenting a bit with Hard-rock convencion, here he shines in it with big light - just listen to title track "discovery" (a bit simmilar to "Shadow on the wall", but it contains much more harder rhythm section), ultra catchy "Tricks of the light" or loud "Poison arrows"...they are maybe not a discovery in musical sense but definitly they Rock.Mike's guitar is full of anger and emotions in every track,and rhythm section (Simon Phillips of TOTO and Oldfield's Powerfull bass guitar) never were as powerfull as on this Album
The biggest hit from here was "To france" - etheral,full of celtic spirit song with unforgettable vocals by Maggie Reilly..."Talk about your life" is slightly different version of "To france" and contains much more spiritual music background and more expressive guitars.
The closing tune "The lake" is about 11 minutes long instrumental track and features sudden changes of tempo and a dramatic guitar-keyboard dialogues...It is one of Mike's best instrumetal tracks from the eighties...
The only song that sounds like a Filler is "saved by a bell" with not the strongest lyrics and Ugly vocals by Barry Palmer - melody is not catchy and guitars are irritating...
Well,if you like Eighties rock music and If you prefer Mike's eighties works you will surely love this one...I found it evry good actually after so many years from buying and i still love to listen to it,especially to "the lake"... August 7, 2003

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