Search - Mike Oldfield :: Hergest Ridge

A Self Contained Landscape of the Mind

Shaun Anderson | Nottingham/Hereford, England, UK | 12/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was always going to be a challenge for young musician Mike Oldfield to follow up the astonishing critical and commerical success of his debut album "Tubular Bells." Unprepared for the limelight of the media circus, the shy and introverted Oldfield headed for the calm and serenity of the Herefordshire countryside. Here he conceived his second album, one whose peaceful pastoral elegance would be overlooked by music critics who had disapproved of Oldfield's unwillingness to play the media game. "Hergest Ridge" was thus unfairly dismissed as the weaker progeny of "Tubular Bells", a dull sequel, much the same thing, but less inspired.



"Hergest Ridge" instead is a subtle piece, a technical improvement on "Tubular Bells", with the rough edges of the latter smoothed over. It is less tough; less rushed, with an elegiac timeless feel, a wonderful winter landscape unsullied by the smog and chaos of the city. Having been born and lived in Hereford for 25 years, the lightly shift tonalities of mood and theme; tell of a familiar space to me, one in which stasis is celebrated, and in which change and innovation is viewed with ambivalence. Herefordshire is a county in which progress is slow and "Hergest Ridge" seems to capture the beauty of this static world, whilst avoiding and leaving unarticulated the resultant frustrations that come with such an attitude.



Oldfield constructed for himself a self contained world, one which the artwork on the album cover reflects perfectly. In an age of speed, technology and intense media attention this album is an excellent antidote and reminder of the musical beauty that can be inspired by landscapes we take for granted. The reputation of "Hergest Ridge" has steadily increased over the years, it now enjoys a place outside the shadow of "Tubular Bells", a place of open rolling fields, a place of joyful naivety and innocence and beautiful blue winter skies.

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Among the best.

Stanley D. Hofer | 01/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Herbgest Ridge, Ommadawn and the Origional Tubular Bells Hybrid, are the best of Mike Oldfield."

Unique in popular music

J. Holcombe | 04/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The thing about Oldfield is how different his music is from other popular music. Not being a trained musician it's hard for me to articulate but I'll try. Orchestral and sweeping with distinct movements, the music communicates emotion and thoughts without lyrics. I don't know where Hergest Ridge is, but I've traveled there with Oldfields help. A great work of art, and one that finds more inspiration in Bach than Elvis Presley.



I once read that the Moody Blues were the Sistine Chapel of popular music but Oldfield is more deserving of that comparison."