Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great album - but it could have been near perfect!, 17 Oct 2002
Within just two years, Mike had gone from the loose folk/hard rock fusion of "Five Miles Out" to the almost-sterile "Discovery". Locked away in a Swiss studio within sight of Lake Geneva, Mike recorded his 9th studio release in 11 years armed with a good set of songs, but a bad sense of selection.Most of the tracks on "Discovery" rate a lot higher than those on "Crises". "To France" is one of those songs that just hits you - a left-of-centre pop song about the exile of Mary Queen of Scots, containing some of the most powerful guitarwork Mike would produce during the 80's. The other single, "Tricks of the Light" is actually quite catchy and harmonious yet it feels too quirky and swamped by the use of the Fairlight. The remaining vocal tracks are listenable, but nothing too special. Fortunately, once you're passed the hit-and-miss vocal songs, you're presented with the 12min instrumental, "The Lake". It starts off shimmering and pastoral building into what sounds to me like an instrumental version of Status Quo!! Nice touch! The album rounds off with a true grand finale, propelled to epic proportions by the drums of Simon Phillips battling against Mike's blistering guitar. It's worth buying the album just for this track alone. When a reviewer says "it could've been better", you don't expect to find evidence to prove it. In reality, "Discovery" truly could have been better. In 1984, Mike would also record "Crime of Passion", its B-Side "Jungle Gardenia", "In the Pool" (B-Side to "To France") and "Afghan" (B-Side to "Tricks...") - all of which are significantly better than Discovery's weaker moments. With over 30min of disc space remaining, Virgin could have at least included these as bonus tracks to give the listener the full scope of Mike's work in 1984. If you enjoyed "Five Miles Out" or any other Oldfield album from the 80's, "Discovery" will not disappoint. If not - buy it anyway just to hear "The Lake"!!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hugely entertaining and contrasting album., 21 Oct 2000
By A Customer
Although I possess most of Mike Oldfield's album's this still has to be one of my favourite's.Although appearing to be largely unknown(and unappreciated) by the masse's it contains some wonderfully lively tracks such as "Poison Arrows" and these are tempered by quieter tracks such as "Crystal Gazing".The masterpiece,like good wine is left 'til last."The Lake" is as good if not better than anything Mike has written and would compare very favourably to any instrumental piece on any of his album's.Definitely a good buy(I can't say anything else as it's my kid's favourite album!).
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magic! Purely magical mix of celtic rhytmes, modern instruments and two magnificent voices!, 23 Sep 2007
There is a lot of CDs on my shelves, but I count only a handful of albums so incredibly powerful and charged with magic as this one. Mike Oldfield, who really doesn't need to be introduced anymore with his world fame, took old celtic (Scottish, Irish and Welsh) and popular English rhytmes and completely transformed it, to make one of the most original and powerful modern musics. He is using technically advanced instruments (including synthetisers, etc.) but in the same time he managed to keep old magic in his works - there is simply no way to describe the fascinating and unique sound he so achieved. Although he is mostly famous for the instrumental music, he is also the author of the already legendary song "Moonlight Shadows" (not included here) and on this CD you will find no less than SEVEN songs, interpreted by two greatly talented artists, owners of particularly magnificent voices: Maggie Reilly (who also interpreted "Moonlight Shadows") and Barry Palmer. This album is pure magic and since I discovered it in the 80s, I listened it may be about one hundred times. And the magic still works! It is worth to give it a try - and if you like it, try the precedent album, "Crises", which includes "Moonlight Shadows".
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~ Mike Oldfield
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