Mike Oldfield Crises

Personnel: Mike Oldfield (vocals, guitar, mandolin, banjo, harp, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, acoustic & electric basses, electronic drums, tambourine, shaker, bells); Roger Chapman, Jon Anderson, Maggie Reilly (vocals); Ant, Rick Fenn (guitar); Pierre Moerlen (vibraphone); Phil Spalding (bass); Simon Phillips (drums, shaker).

Recorded in Denham, England from November 1982 to April 1983.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Following a long-established production pattern, Mike Oldfield assembled some relatively simple pop- and rock-flavored numbers following one long introductory piece on his 1983 Disky release, Crisis. The 20-minute opening title-track is a quintessential Oldfield texture study that consists of sparkling synth washes with edgier material weaving in and out. A fine setup, this track cleanses the aural pallet, preparing the listener nicely for the tunes that follow. Yes fans who can adjust to the sugary highlight "In High Places" will enjoy Jon Anderson's springy vocal work on the track. The energetic guitar romp "Taurus 3" will also appeal to most prog and art rock fans. Those in search of more ethereal Oldfield material should be aware of this record's pop leanings, but open-minded listeners will have a good time exploring Crisis, one of Oldfield's better releases of this type. ~ Vincent Jeffries

• Format: CD
• Genre: Pop