Comments for Oldfield, Mike, Hergest Ridge

This is the most serene and melodic album by Mike, apart the obsessive "thunderstorm" at the end of side 2, which sounds like a development of a repetitive bass phrase taken from Tubular Bells. There are less themes than in its predecessor but they are more extended, and the counterpoint of the central movement of side 1 is one of the best pieces he has ever conceived. G.L.

They say you have your whole life to devise your first album, but only about one year to come up with your second. Mike rises to the challenge, though. Perhaps a little less bold than "Tubular Bells", I think it stands in comparison. I agree, the "thunderstorm" on side two makes me bite my nails, but overall, this is a beautiful piece of work.

In a good sense, nothing to do with its antecesor. Moody, relaxing, delicate soundascaping, "Hergest Ridge" takes the other side of Oldfield. (Carlos Martinez)

This album is one of his best!

Listening to the album led me to see how Hergest Ridge was a logical link between Tubular Bells and Ommadawn. Oldfield sustains the melody throughout the piece more smoothly. Even though HR is not as perfect in theme variation as Oldfield's best album, Ommadawn, the emotions on his sophomore album is more real and warm than Tubular Bells. The second half of the first part is a true masterpiece, the melody is absolutely contageous. Mike evens out the contrasts more on this album than he did with TB, and it pleased me moreover to observe that he was developing his instrumental form further instead of trying to copy outright his first album (which many artists tend to do nowadays). Definitely one of his best.

I''m torn over this album. There are two versions; the original and the version Mike likes unfortunately the first version is the most serene and delicate and should have been the one Mike released on CD. Mike''s version is still great, but a little harsher and jarring. Having said this, Hergest Ridge is still the only album which makes Autumn in Canada enjoyable. For that Mike has my everlasting gratitude.