How in the world was I not aware of this nearly two year old thread? I’ve got some catching up to do...
NP: Lard Free - III Insane French prog(ish) music from 1977. Kind of like if Steve Reich formed a rock band on Mars. Awesome stuff! EDIT: I just remembered that I posted this earlier in the thread. What I wrote then is: "Other worldly, cyclic, hallucinatory, epic!" Not exactly a contradiction!
Areknames. 3 solid studio and 1 live albums. A favorite contemporary prog band of mine, influenced in part by VDGG. In part because they go way beyond the usual VDGG gamut of musical moods. This is their 3rd album which is a nice entry point in their world. Not sure what happened to them since then.
I am trying to get a preview of this album. This one falls into the semi-rare category and I will most likely have to order it. Is your copy vinyl or cd? If CD what’s the catalogue number? How’s the SQ? Thanks!!!
If you want to sample the music before committing to buy a copy, here's a Youtube link: I have the '94 Japanese CD issue on King/Nexus, #KICP 2747. Sound quality is good IMO, but there's lots of reverb, along with deliberate twisting and blurring of instrumental textures so sound quality in the traditional sense almost doesn't apply here. My take on the CDs (I'm not a vinyl person any more) is that I'd avoid the Captain Trip CD. It MIGHT be fine, but they have a reputation of questionable mastering practices on some releases. I'm not sure how widespread this is with them, so I'd just steer clear to be safe. Here are different options available via discogs. Lard Free - Lard Free
This weekend I will be alternating Mike Oldfield following albums with the new Focus - 50 Years boxset. With 3 more weekends to go, I will probably add-on a third album to the weekend schedule.
Two albums I dont have. I do have the "Best of" 2CD from this era. I've not spun it for a while. lots of remixes. What are the albums like?
Voyager is mainly a celtic music theme album tainted with Mike Oldfield’s guitar playing. An easy listening album, closer to new age than prog. Not essential to your collection but very well recorded. Spheres is an album with orchestra, choir and soprano singer. The famous piano player Lang Lang is guesting on many tracks. Mainly on the classical music side, it provides the perfect support for Mike’s guitar playing. I must admit that I didn’t crack the code on this one yet and still in discovery mode. Again, not a must have album but if you are into classical music as I am, you will want to add this one to your collection. If you like the Killing Fileds soundtrack, you will probably like this one.
Yes is good... Listening to the February 18 1974 Madison Square Garden show at the moment, love the Tales shows, I am definitely in that majority of Yes fans for whom Tales From Topographic Oceans is my favourite album of theirs...hey, we all have our crosses to bear. And the solo guest sitting down in the lobby waiting for his ride hasn't raised any objections... Unfortunately the show (a very good to excellent stereo audience recording) doesn't sound as good on my new phone as on my stereo at home...certainly passes the time, though.
My fall season Mike Oldfield Marathon will continue this weekend with Tubular Bells 2009, Tubular Bells II and Tubular Bells 3. I do not have any other TB sequel volume so feel free to recommend some.
I have been through all of them this weekend and my previous self assessment of the sequels didn’t change so much from previous listening sessions. They bear the Oldfield watermark, are very interesting to listen to but will never make it to MO top tier material. There’s only one original Tubular Bells, the one from 1973.
