There he is again, Mike

How long you had to wait for such a moment? I myself have never seen him since the last time, as Mike Oldfield had published such a good album, I was just three years old ("Amarok").
After the albums (and was actually ausglaufen since his contract with Virgin) us the exceptional musicians in recent years presented, such a masterpiece seemed almost impossible. What for a long time always hinted only in parts of his plays, is now finally a complete album to enjoy: class and musical onomatopoeia.

When I first heard that this work should be produced entirely orchestral, I liked the idea, but I was worried. A full orchestra - that can go wrong fast as we rock musicians and bands proved in recent decades often.
But what still often immature and (especially in the second part) had annoying on "The Orchestral Tubular Bells", saved the album "Voyager" with the grandiose "Mont St Michel" - here but only for a distance of twelve minutes.
Another counter-argument: There should not even give the typical Oldfield electric guitars! However, you will have a knowledge very quickly while listening to this brilliant piece: the guitar is far less entscheident to create as Mr. Oldfield will, epic soundscapes. Because actually stand and fall all his compositions only with the fact if he feels like it, or rather to rumzulutschen vile Meldoiefetzen and they inflate in excess length (see: "Light & Shade"). Moreover, comes "Incantations", one of his first works (1978), in many parts also without the electric guitar.

But what you should pay attention at first listen: Harbinger, the first track of the album is once again "Tubular Bells", although mans actually sorry. But what follows after that, makes you forget this fact also. Somehow the good man took probably an entry and if this was enough to get into such a charming soundscapes, it's all right with me.
I do not think also that the first part is the weaker. That is probably a matter of taste. However, what is noteworthy: "Aurora" (also the strongest song on the album) to make it that much better a second part begins for the first time, as the first. In his earliest works of the second part always fell off a little.

Overall, one can say that there is not a single bad piece on this CD - all would receive at least four stars from me! Oldfield and classical music never fit together better. Some consider the presented here for corny. I think it is rather a balancing act. Actually, all good works of Mike Oldfield points that could already dub "cheesy" than. This is simply a must, otherwise it would not Mike Oldfield.
For me, "Music of the Spheres" on a par with "Hergest Ridge", albeit somewhat weaker than its absolute magnum opus "Incantations".

At the end, when the CD is played, you can sit happily with his headphones and is pleased that it had been right so that Mike Oldfield, it still can, if he wants to because. I hope he would like a few more times.