I originally(many years ago) bought this on tape,I must have let someone "borrow" it and it was never returned,and so this CD was like visiting an old friend who I had not seen for years.It is still very good and really worth listening to(unlike some of his later rubbish)
August 11, 2008 |  | let me be as concise as possible. |  |
I played this recording often during a journey I made with my parents and chinese girlfriend, around south africa. My father was dying of cancer. We all loved the music - cross generational, haunting, seamless and seemingly endless - ideal for a road trip. Several years after my fathers death, I played it again. I noticed my girlfriend crying. I asked why. The music instantly returned her to that wonderful journey and reminded her of my father. Can you ever ask for more from a recording?
June 25, 2008 | | Aboard Oldfield's Spaceship | |
Mike Oldfield's range sometimes stumps listeners. His Tubular Bells series remains one of the most idiosyncratic in all of popular music, yet he's done rock (Five Miles Out), Celtic (Voyager) and this piece of Science Fiction New Age. Of all of Oldfield's work, "Songs of Distant Earth" is one of my favorites.
He ustilzed the concept of Arthur C Clarke's famous work, but eschews narrative/voiceovers and lets the music form the story. Random words and an Apollo broadcast form what "lyrics" the music has, as the album builds in a meditative way. Oldfield even coyly cops from his own work on "Tubular World," as well as from Enigma on "Hibernaculum." When the album reaches its climax on "Ascension/New Beginning," it matches the goal of Clarke's work, which was to reach unity in song and discovery. As ambient electronic music, it also soothes, relaxes and offers joy.
One of the best of the ambient genre, "Songs Of Distant Earth" accomplishes what few concept albums do. It stands on its own as a great piece of music.
June 23, 2008| | | I am a fool. A fool, a fool! | |
Why a fool? Because I loved Tubular Bells, and because I looked no further, or asked for any more from Oldfield. I wandered on and found other great music, in Yes, Tangerine Dream, early Genesis, middle Floyd, so I wasn't deprived. But this is a **stunning** album that I could have found years ago. In 35 years of seriously listening to music I've never encountered more cathartic, enchanting and fulfilling pieces. Dang, I should become the ancient mariner and stoppeth one of three. My loss is my albatross, and this review is my atonement... You'd risk more than the cost of this album on a suspect book or over-hyped movie: treat yourself.
May 28, 2008Words are inadequate to describe the joy and exhilaration I feel listening to this CD...Absolutely beautiful!
March 21, 2008More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(90 reviews)