crises

mike oldfield

blue plate caroline, 1983

Mood—Calm reflection bookended by intensity.

Sample: "Moonlight Shadow"

Thoughts— The moment that I knew I had crossed the line from "fan" to "superfan" with Mike Oldfield was the moment I realized i actually like to listen to "Shadow on the Wall". It wasn't the song itself that I used to find so annoying, just the singer's voice. Roger Chapman has a very... distinctive... voice and it isn't really something I enjoy.

So, I used to always skip that track. I found it annoying when it was on "Best Of" compilations, and just couldn't figure out what people saw in it. Then one day I just stopped skipping the song, and then soon after that I started actively choosing to listen to it. How odd, considering I still can't really stand Chapman's vocals.

But that's what being a superfan really is... you even like the stuff you shouldn't.

But enough about "Shadow on the Wall"... this is one of Mike Oldfield's best albums. "Crises", the 20-minute-long title track, does what Mike does best: deep layers, moving melodies, and weird instruments. Sirens, engines, screeching tires, breaking things, and so on.

All of the songs that follow are some of his best. "Moonlight Shadow" utlizes Maggie Reilly's bright and soulful voice in all the right ways. "In High Places" surprised me on first listen as Yes frontman Jon Anderson sings about floating baloons and devil moons. The other instrumental (although "Crises" does have some lyrics in it, I still consider it an instrumental at heart) "Taurus 3" has some great guitar work and a very appealing percussive intensity.

It's hard to go wrong with Oldfield. I'm not saying that it's impossible, as I will prove to you at a later date, but Crises was one of the first Oldfield albums I really got into, and it remains a favorite.

Recommended? It is Mike Oldfield, so of course!

Link—mikeoldfield.com

Tracklist
1. Crises
2. Moonlight Shadow
3. In High Places
4. Foreign Affair
5. Taurus 3
6. Shadow on the Wall