Tubular Bells 2

by Mike Oldfield

Overview

Tubular Bells II is the update and/or sequel to Mike Oldfield's landmark 1973 new age recording Tubular Bells, which will resonate forever as the haunting theme to The Exorcist. Here, Oldfield repeats his multi-instrumental performance, playing guitar, banjo, organ, percussion, mandolin, and the titular tubular bells, although in a nod to modernism, the latter instruments often appear as samples through Oldfield's Kurzweil synth rig. It's the piece's captivating main theme that again takes center stage here. The eight-minute opening track "Sentinel" plays it off of whining guitars and breathy female vocals. The latter element is a nice touch. The genre that the original Bells helped establish has come quite a ways in 20 years, and this fact isn't lost on Oldfield. Throughout II, he incorporates the multi-cultural influences that have cross-pollinated with new age, bringing in breathy ethnic flutes, Asian-inflected string sounds, and the whispered foreign words of "Sentinel." The famous ceiling of the album, where each instrument is introduced by a narrator, becomes another summit between old and new. Alan Rickman handles the introductions (during "Bell") and runs through a litany of instruments that includes "digital sound processor," reed and pipe organ, "the Venetian effect," glockenspiel, "two slightly sampled electric guitars," and vocal chords, which Rickman introduces as if they're an exotic museum piece. Some of Oldfield's fancy-handed riffs fail; the bagpipes of "Tattoo" seem too obvious and "Sunjammer" sounds like an unfortunate outtake from the Who's Tommy. But overall, Tubular Bells II succeeds mightily. It doesn't beat its predecessor, but does update its sonics and technology with Oldfield's flair for studied grandiosity. ~ Johnny Loftus

Product Details

Release Date:	04/28/2015
Label:	Rhino
UPC:	0825646233236
Rank:	6973

Tracks

1. Sentinel
2. Dark Star
3. Clear Light
4. Blue Saloon
5. Sunjammer
6. Red Dawn
7. The Bell
8. Weightless
9. The Great Plain
10. Sunset Door
11. Tattoo
12. Altered State
13. Maya Gold
14. Moonshine

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mike Oldfield   Primary Artist,Bass,Banjo,Bells,Drums,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Cymbals,Timpani,Clapping,Mandolin,Triangle,Percussion,Tambourine,Synthesizer,Drums (Bass),Glockenspiel,Handclapping,Tubular Bells,Organ (Hammond),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String),Guitar (Classical)
John "4 Daddman" Robinson   Drums
Jamie Muhoberac   Drums,Noise,Drum Loop,Keyboards
P.D. Scots Pipe Band   Bagpipes
Edie Lehmann Boddicker   Vocals
Celtic Bevy Band   Bagpipes
Sally Bradshaw   Vocals
Susannah Melvoin   Vocals
Edie Lehmann   Vocals
John "J.R." Robinson   Drums

Technical Credits

Trevor Horn   Producer
Steve MacMillan   Mixing,Engineer
Mike Oldfield   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Synthesizer Programming
Tim Weidner   Engineer
Tom Newman   Engineer,Producer
Richard Barrie   Technician
Tim Weider   Engineer
Trevor Key   Photography
Jill Furmanovsky   Photography
Eric Cadieux   Programming
Clive Banks   Representation
Jeremy Parker   Personal Assistant
Steve MacMilan   Mixing,Engineer
Rob Dickins   Executive Producer
Jill Furpanovsky   Photography
A Strolling Player   MC