Mike Oldfield- Crises REACTION AND REVIEW

[@Mannizilla]

from start to end 10/10

[@DeesoSaeed]

Simon Philips drum work in this one is a real highlight

[@WONDERSR]

Huge sound.

[@user-vv9it9ye4g]

Mike + Simon = 😋👍💜💥

[@martindavies1632]

This is where I came in with Oldfield in 1983. This is what made me sit up and listen to Oldfield, never looked back since. Thanks JP for this.

[@jerkedevries]

Me, being from 1970, I first heard Voyager and TB2. Then Amarok, which I first didn’t get, and then everything else. There really isn’t a bad album imo: all good. The first albums I borrowed from the local library!

[@Tredecimus]

@@martindavies1632 Same here

[@WONDERSR]

Brilliant piece of music - has there ever been anyone like Mike O? Don't think so.

[@Nidels]

You can't imagine how much I enjoyed your reaction to this album by my friend Mike. A big hug.

[@prebsi8603]

MASTERPIECE - I'm all tears

[@MrSinnerBOFH]

I’ve been waiting for your reaction to Crises since you started in your Mike journey, THANK YOU!! This was my introduction to Mike, by accident, as a friend recorded a tape for me, had 22 minutes left, and his older brother said to record this one. It blew my young mind, music has never been the same since then. Superb drumming, superb bass, superb synths and such tasty guitars! So glad you got around to listen to Crises. Remember Crises was his 10 years Tubular Bells anniversary album and, compositionally, it mimics quite a bit with Tubular Bells Part One. Give it a few listens, it’s so worth it. And the last half is just pure epic!

[@Tredecimus]

I can totally relate to your „music has never been the same“. I was 14 and it opened a new musical world for me. Music can be so much more than just entertainment.

[@robertpearson8798]

If I had to pick a single Oldfield cut as my absolute favourite this would be it.

[@paulcollins5586]

Great synths and drums on this. Superb.

[@ChrisEchoes]

There is a reason why Simon Phillips got a co-production credit on this album cause he worked hard on getting his drums sound huge. This is where his signature sound really got captured for the first time really well. Those deep gong drums just sound awesome here.

[@markd.schlick8076]

This is one of my favorite MO-Songs!! Loving it!!

[@manhattenman6075]

Great synths, great drumming, great guitar, everything’s great with Mike Oldfield. Unlike Taurus II, this song isn’t all other the place. One of his best 80s tracks.

[@MrSinnerBOFH]

And AMAZEBALLS bass guitar work!🎉🎉🎉

[@DavidImiri]

Yes indeed. Maestro Mike has on occasion suffered from strings of amazing glorious sequences strung together too jarringly and disjointedly. Maybe a little of that on the first half here, but nothing compared to Taurus II, and even Tubular Bells. I agree with JP, he's at his best when he avoids that and stays in lane a bit longer.

[@dirkschrauwen]

Thanks JP for returning to Mike Oldfield nearly one year after Five Miles Out. The Crises album is phenomenal thanks to the genial interplay between Mike Oldfield and Simon Philips. Mike strongly featured the Fairlight CMI, which was the 'god' of the synths in the 80's. And of course the outstanding vocalists Maggie Reilly, Jon Anderson and Roger Chapman.

[@murdockreviews]

It's been ages since I've heard this. Coincidentally, I'm just reading Oldfield's autobiography "Changeling".

[@jerkedevries]

I read it already. Interesting

[@foamheart]

I listened to this album at a turning point in my life. I had finished school the year before and was doing my last months of military service. I remember that day in the summer of 1983, driving along a country road and humming “In High Places” in my head. A few months later, I moved to another city and started my studies.

[@petrariedewald9969]

I appreciate your reviews very much. You analyse everything very detailed. As for the album, it is not my favourite Oldfield work but I agree with you that the build up in the second part is phenomenal, especially the drumming.

[@BrandonBlume]

Finally we're here! Been waiting for this for the past year! I had a feeling you'd appreciate Crises more than Taurus 2. Mike really put more emphasis on production this time and hired Simon not only for drumming but as co-producer too. That teamwork works incredibly well on the whole album (as well as the next few of Mike's albums they collaborate on).

[@neilhinks5734]

I love this album...the title track is just absolute bliss Justin...it's got such beauty..pure Oldfield...What a talent he was ❤❤❤ Loved your review Justin...no shock there...I knew you like this...trust me , you ll grow to love it Justin. I had this on tape...and I played it to death.🎸🎹🎹🎸

[@andersondavies3589]

For me the best produced sound of all his works. And, of course, the drumming by Simon Philipps is phenomenal.

[@SadBnnuy]

The second half can't come soon enough. Thanks for the reaction!

[@git606]

I think with Oldfield’s music he does have lots of bits that he puts in a box then when he has enough bits he pulls them out and puts a bunch together to make the album, that’s just the way he works. I grew up with this so it’s kinda normal for me but I love the juxtapositions of the different pieces, you never get bored and it never outstays it’s welcome. It does take a while to get to know all the bits and how they all fit together. Taurus II is probably the most dense piece, Crises is a bit less but this period is my favourite of Mike’s. Glad you love this and I’m sure over time you’ll love it even more 🤘

[@jasonbrandt5504]

Great reaction . This album was my senior year in high school. Tons of memory flood back, listen to it again, side one flows more than you may think but yeah, he loves his transitions, lots of ideas. Ty

[@markley552]

When Mike Oldfield released Hergest Ridge, critics disdained him and called him boring. It was a work with long and elaborate transitions, the album had a few melodies but they were well used and reused throughout the work. It is a masterpiece. But Mike also disdained him for his bad reviews and that also affected those new jobs in the future.

[@charleswagner2984]

You should hear the Orchestral Hergest Ridge. When Branson insisted on the Orchestral Tubular Bells, thank God that David Bedford had the wisdom to also orchestrate Hergest Ridge, even before it was released.

[@stephendennis5911]

Love any instrumentals from Mike oldfield

[@HippoYnYGlaw]

melody upon melody tune tumult sunny smiles riff revolver

[@sheldonhowells3083]

Thanks for the mention, Justin! After "Tubular Bells", "Crises" is my favourite album by Oldfield. A really powerful and engaging instrumental, followed by a strong collection of pop and rock songs on the second side, plus the brilliant, "Taurus III". I have fond memories of buying the album on cassette, back in 1983, and playing it over and over again!

[@sonnyhenriksen284]

Best since Tubular Bells and Ommadawn.

[@charleswagner2984]

​@@sonnyhenriksen284I find Incantations to be Mike's finest hour of music. My 8th favorite album in all music history, the second rock symphony (the first being Topographic Oceans) is the most complete of all Oldfield-ness, just like Topographic Oceans is hardcore Yes at their peak.

[@sonnyhenriksen284]

@@charleswagner2984 I enjoy parts of Incantations immensely, but some passages are...just idling. You've made me wanna go back and give it a thorough re-listen👍

[@franckb8279]

At last! My first album from Mike. My favorite song. Simon Philips is awesome on here.

[@MrSinnerBOFH]

Same, same, same, same! ❤❤❤❤ Crises was mind blowing when it was released.

[@MrDslacker]

Awesome track - I use it when I need to test speakers and other Hi-Fi equipment. So much dynamics and deep drums and high high hats. wild stereo separation... I seem to remember even more stereo separation in the original recording, but could be youtube compression...

[@ThomasKnip]

That album was my very first dip into a kind of music that led me deep, deep down a rabbit hole back in the 1980's. This piece holds a very special place in my heart. For me it is about my Top 5.

[@richardgoddard37]

My favourites are: Discovery, Voyager, Crisis, TB II, Return to Ommadawn, and Songs of Distant Earth (my absolute favourite), but there are gems to be found on every album.

[@jerkedevries]

Songs of distant earth is also my favorite, followed by Five miles out and Tubular bells II

[@DavidImiri]

Songs of Distant Earth is so epic! But doesn't anyone else listen to Music of the Spheres? Those two are my favorites from the 90's to the present - though every album from 1990 on is pure genius, as are the first four, and much of everything in between. But no one else mentions Spheres that I've seen. Come on, a full orchestral suite, with choir and angelic solo vocals, and full on Oldfield epic composition, scored by Karl Jenkins of Adiemus fame? Do folks just not really prefer it, or have you not heard it? Just curious...

[@jerkedevries]

@@DavidImiriyea absolutely right. It is great, including the tracks where the female singer sings with fantastic melody and voice. But the cooperation with the Scandinavian conductor was great. They could have made more albums

[@jerkedevries]

@@DavidImiri kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH3LpZJpn9OpqJIsi=h3mqJIW_0a1dHi-y Performance from Music of the Speres; the track On my heart ❤

[@leethomas2155]

DavidImiri@@DavidImiri I love MOTS I have it well up there with his best. Favourite track: Harmonia Mundi.

[@rolandschaub4349]

Great review, thank you. I love this song and I‘m glad it resonated with you, especially the second part, which I too think is brilliant.

[@user-vv9it9ye4g]

I am so freaking glad you got to this!

[@LaRRinco]

This is an amazing piece of music. The Simon Philips drum work is out of this world. Love it. The end section is so epic that gives me the mood to conquer something 😉.

[@DavidImiri]

Oh yeah, that's right. This is one of his great masterworks of the 80's - I love it. Glad you mostly did too, it bodes well for how the next chunk of his catalog will land for you. I think you were a little unfair to the first half, but it doesn't shine as brightly as the second, and you did say you needed another listen (or several), I think you'll find it perfect in context, you can't crescendo all the way through a piece. You'll love The Wind Chimes from Islands, that's his other greatest 80's masterpiece imho, surpassing even this I think on most days. But you've got a little territory to cross before you get there - Discovery is a worthy listen, especially The Lake, and I love ALL the "singles" tracks from these three albums, I'll be curious to see how they land for you. And don't pass up his soundtrack from The Killing Fields from 1984 - but it's a toss up whether it's really good fodder for the channel or best enjoyed on your own time. It's got some really stellar moments, and is thoroughly rich and deep throughout, but it's, well, film music of course, and it's kind of a dark film - not the rousing joyful romp Crises was by a longshot, or a coherent suite or symphony. After Islands, he takes a dive with Earth Moving, his only awful dog of an album - in fact the only one I can't find serious greatness in. I still can't really listen to anything from it, and I would actually recommend skipping it altogether, or saving for a completist listen, after you've heard everything else. But right after that comes two of his most interestingly different and experimental albums, Amarok and Heaven's Open. Amarok in particular I will agree with many is one of his finest - though it's quite a curve ball, and took me decades to fully appreciate - it's really something unique and surprising, divisive even. Beyond those, it's clear sailing - greatness upon greatness, followed by greatness - another dozen masterpieces, each unique, innovating, and progressing. Personal favorites include The Songs of Distant Earth (1994), and Music of the Spheres (2008), which is a lengthy suite with full orchestra, and unbelievably good (Can't wait till you get there...). As you can see, Oldfield's up there with anybody to me, my favorite music on the planet, on a parr with the best of Yes and other classic prog for me - I hope you don't mind me wagging on with these coming attractions for you. Maybe it will inspire you to pick up the pace on his catalog just a smidgen - though probably not, we'll just have to listen to the last few before he retired as old men still here... 🤣

[@tr3slunas542]

As many here, it was the album that made me discover Oldfield. I fell in love with the music, the originality (one side instrumental-only) and.. the cover ! Yes, the second part is masterpiece (the first one is good, but too much collage). I used to go alone for a walk at night in middle of the fields (sometimes at full moon, like the cover), listening to that track with my walkman... It was perfect moments of my youth.

[@Tredecimus]

Indeed the cover is rather special and makes you very curious what the music on this record could be like.

[@aleclewis9123]

I think this whole piece is one of Simon Phillips's best drumming works, same as Mike Rutherford's Out Into The Daylight, Steve Hackett's Turn This Island Earth and Lebo M's He Lives In You among others. His work with Toto is also astounding. He has such a unique sound and, having met him, is also a really nice guy. 🙂

[@billjones8503]

"Something is missing? Something is off?" 🤔 lol Teasin Justin. 😉 Only great epic music one feels something missing or off. The composer leaves you hanging a bit, to lure you back for more, cus there is MORE. Mystery begets more mystery, yes? ~ So glad someone-you-got around to reviewing this masterful piece finally. Masterful job of it too Justin! Thank you.

[@JohnWhipp]

Yes, I think what's missing at the end there is side 2, and I'm sure there'll be more to talk about when you get there. For me, I'd say Crises from start to finish is the strongest of Mike Oldfield's 1980s albums, with plenty to enjoy. For what its worth, my recommendation on this one would be to follow the original UK running order, and then maybe take the US-bonus track "Mistake" at the end, because it wasn't really a part of the album as such, and personally I'm not convinced that it fits.

[@soozikins]

Beautiful Album, never tire of listening to it.

[@Tredecimus]

What strikes me most on Crises - apart prom the drumming- are the synthesizer sounds, with Oberheim, Fairlight and Prophet. They very much contribute to the overall sound of this piece. Of course there are the MO guitar sounds as well but imo no track of his before had this decidedly electronic sound (that I absolutly adore, by the way).

[@piotrrybka318]

IMHO, Crises, the piece, is one of the best of Mike's. If only Taurus II was divided into 2 parts, the first one would be in my opinion flawless, but with the second, rather dull part it must compete with Crises. You may notice that this piece contains some ideas we know from Taurus II, like almost heavy metal riffs and double drum kits. Unfortunately, this is the period when Mike was struggling with Virgin Records. They wanted him to produce songs that could be played on the radio. That's why we have Five Miles Out, Crises, Discovery - actually split in half: with one large instrumental piece on one side and some songs on the other. The culmination of that was Earth Moving. Virgin had won - only songs on this album. And actually very good ones. Even though Mike hated that, those songs are extremely professional. Mike had to do one last album for Virgin, and he did Amarok (some read this is as "I'm a rock") which is actually a middle finger towards Virgin. The next great hit was Tubular Bells II, but under different label. And there's more to come from Mike. There are some suprises ahead of you, like Amarok, Tubular Bells II, Voyager, Return to Ommadawn. I will be relentless and nag again about Vangelis: you haven't still heard the best of him - Theme from Antarctica, Blush Response, End Titles from Blade Runner, The City (whole album), Pinta-Nina-Santa Maria, Hispanola, Himalaya, Aquatic Dance, BR Downtown. Jarre, Oldfield, Vangelis, Dead Can Dance - next on the list just has to be Andreas Vollenweider: Behind the Gardens-Behind the Wall-Under the Tree, Caverna Magica, Hall of the Stairs-Hall of the Mosaics, Phases of the Three Moons, Moon Dance, The Five Sisters, Morgana Palace, Ancient Pulse, The Golden Bird. A must!

[@GrizzlyOldB]

Actually it's not “Amarok” that was his final album for Virgin, but rather “Heaven's Open” - quite a middle finger of an album. (But I like “Amarok” much more.)

[@piotrrybka318]

@@GrizzlyOldB I know, but it was the last one as "Mike Oldfield" ;) Heaven's Open was "Michael" Oldfield's... first and last album ;) A different type of middle finger, but as if someone else's ;)

[@DavidImiri]

Andreas Vollenweider!!! Another towering genius of instrumental music at the intersection of world beat, prog, jazz, and new age. Take note JP, he's a must-listen. Start on his catalog, start to finish, like with Mike - you'll be richly rewarded!

[@DavidImiri]

@@GrizzlyOldB and @poitrrybka318, Amarok and Heaven's Open are his most experimental albums, and almost anti-commercial. I'm sure he had to get that out of his system after his struggles with Virgin, and being forced into airplay songs (even though many of those are very good), but I think it was equally breaking away from the mold and expectations set by his successful early masterpieces. The middle finger is there, and the upchuck against expectations and distorting influences, but I also think it was just what he really wanted to do - a shake-up and break-away. And yeah, Amarok is the gem there, but Heaven's Open is under-appreciated.

[@jerkedevries]

@@GrizzlyOldB‘Don’t you know we’re not Virgin; we’re on the make make, we only take take..’ I like Music from the Balcony very much btw

[@brumanlcy]

Always loved the fact that he worked a fragment of Moonlight Shadow into this around 2 minutes in. 🤔

[@daxtear]

This is one of my favorites personally. There are 1 or 2 weird transitions in this song, but I like every part of it so I don't mind that.

[@markgodwin1777]

I agree that the sudden changes always left me confused on 1st listening BUT it is SO clever that the connections become clearer with multiple listening. One of the reasons that his music does not become boring. There is just so much to hear. And even years later there is something new to hear.

[@keithdawe5512]

Since you love "Part 2" of Crises, then you need to give a second listen to Part 1 and hear how the intro section is what is repeated in the finale, so this is essential. After that it is Crises Crises which is actually a really fun but intense rocky section that doesn't jump around as much as you think it does (they're just multiple related parts). This gets the yayas out before the more low-key 'part 2' with it's very slow build up to the climax

[@DavidImiri]

Well said.

[@jimschroeder1176]

Thanks for reviewing this song JP. This is one of my favorite Mike Oldfield albums and was my introduction to the artist. This song in particular has always been a favorite of mine. Mike seems to find an 80's sound that actually works for him, and of course Simon Phillips drumming is sublime. I knew you'd like this song. The other side of the album has some good short songs and features Maggie Reilly singing along with Jon Anderson.

[@amarok9097]

I've been air drumming to this since 1983. Quintessential 80s prog.

[@linusfotograf]

I suggest doing side B in one sitting as the songs are quite short.

[@DavidImiri]

Here, here! I was surprised this wasn't a long song Saturday pick. I agree that side two would be best enjoyed in one sitting.

[@KNOPFLERSGOD]

Thanks for returning to Mike Oldfield JP. This is a great album and track, the drumming from Simon Phillips is brilliant and Mike's guitar playing of course. This album contains Mike's most famous and successful vocals songs, Moonlight Shadow.

[@denismansfield8876]

Justin, I have had you on Patreon for many years. I rarely ask for requests, though I was rather adamant with Stomu Yamashta's GO (Winwood, Shrieve, DiMeola, Schulze, and Yamashta). Anyhow, I have a few choices ... TIM BLAKE - NEW JERUSALEM. Blake was in Gong and Hawkwind ... keyboards. Or, YES - MACHINE MESSIAH ... despite Trevor Horn singing lead following Andersons departure, I personally like the Drama LP.

[@IllumeEltanin]

Justin listened to all of Drama back in 2020. The playlist is not coming up for me on search, here’s Machine Messiah. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZCsnHinqtaAf7Msi=CJezUkbIG0t6PHiV

[@denismansfield8876]

@IllumeEltanin Thank you. I must have been busy and missed it. Thanks again for keeping me up-to-date.

[@charleswagner2984]

I second the motion for Go, particularly the Live In Paris album. One of my top 5 live albums. Care to guess the other 4? Hint: one of them is Exposed by Oldfield.

[@thrakattack]

Crisis came out at a time, when i was shocked, that "my" Mike Oldfield became suddenly a pop-star with huge hits like "Moonlight Shadow" and "Shadow on the wall", who everybody knew at this time. So it took some time till i heard this record until i discovered this little gem. Ok, it wasn't this magic-moments, when i heard first time Ommadawn or Incantations, but i like it. For me one of the best Oldflield-Longtracks outside the 70's... but i would put it a tiny bit behind Taurus2... and some to my Nr.1, Amarok.

[@kallteknik]

Amazed someone reacts to this! Thank you! A suggestion is follow up with the last mainly instrumental track on Heavens Open which is equally interesting and amazing.

[@jerkedevries]

Agree!

[@user-vv9it9ye4g]

Check out "Far Country" on Mike Oldfield's Earth Moving Album. It's a hauntingly beautiful song, with a guitar duet with Adrian Belew of King Crimson.

[@michaelgray5100]

About the 7:50 mark is the part I really really like! That part is awesome! Ends around the 10:10 mark.. but all of this song is really good!

[@kidallv]

Finally, how long have I been waiting) Also would love to see reactions to the full Archive albums starting with You All Look The Same To Me

[@Tredecimus]

It is fascinating to listen to this one with headphones. They work like a magnificent lens here. There is so much going on and it’s hard to get all those details.

[@jerkedevries]

Looking forward to it😊

[@benoitdesmarais2948]

The last of his great decade of albums that started with Tubular Bells in 1973. I wore my copy out back in 83. Listening to it now, i find he was starting to repeat himself a bit, especially the first half. The "regular" songs on side B are the best he came up with, Jon Anderson (In High Places - sampled by Kanye West!) and Maggie Reilly (the magical Moonlight Shadow) especially.

[@MrSinnerBOFH]

And Shadow on the Wall, with the unique Roger Chapman

[@DavidImiri]

All fantastic, and some of his best short songs. But despite the original mind-blowing genius and originality of the early works, and the maturing of the great 80's albums, I think his later work is tragically under-appreciated. He did so many genius albums from the 90's clear through Return to Ommadawn, and so diverse. I always wonder if people have even heard them, and really taken them in, or just heard something from Earth Moving and thought "He's done". Not a bad one from 1990 onward, and he never stopped evolving and experimenting...

[@A.J.EspinalMusic]

Great... great...

[@papalaz4444244]

I played this LP to death when it came out and I have never heard this remaster. I thought I was imagining it at first when some of the sections sound significantly different to my memories :) It's the same elements but there's some brutal EQ on some of them and I think I can hear a more modern reverbs.

[@SadBnnuy]

This reminds of how Jean Michel Jarres Magnetic Fields album. Went more rhythmic and digital more digital synths

[@keithhealing1115]

I put this and Taurus II on level pegging - I love them both. Neither hits as well as Ommadawn Pt 1, but they are both glorious.

[@routemaster19]

This is why Oldfield can be such a frustrating artist - just when you are about to give up on him he will drop something truly amazing again and you're caught up in his whole soundscape of that era. Have fun!

[@charleswagner2984]

I never had any reason to even think about giving up on Mike. I think Platinum is the lull for Oldfield. And that album isn't bad. Just not better than anything before it.

[@AndyHarrisGoogle]

Check out Underworld’s Juanita: Kiteless: To Dream Of Love from their album Second Toughest In The Infants.

[@linusfotograf]

I love this album even if the B-side is very "songy" and not as progressive. I prefer the organic productions of the 70's with the bagpipes and the bodhrán but the melodies and resolution of his work is equally as great on this album.

[@trisibo]

So you like Mike Oldfield's "repetitiveness", while that's what many people dislike (or say they dislike) about him, you can't win them all. You'll love Amarok then! 😉😉😉 Decades ago I liked way more the first part, while the second was quite "meh", in part because of the repetition, but now I appreciate it much more, even if I still like a bit more the first. By the way, I didn't understand a thing you said during several parts of the song, would subtitles be a chore to add in those situations?

[@DavidImiri]

Yes, I like that your volume during listening doesn't overwhelm the music, but I do miss most of what you say. Subs would be a good idea, if any way to do it.

[@karstenreichert1094]

❤

[@AndrewHillis_2024]

@JustJP YOU MUST DO SIDE TWO JP ! ! ! PLEASE DO SIDE TWO ! ! !👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@user-vv9it9ye4g]

What Andrew said.

[@Devoid_Freud]

I have this album on vinyl. This IS side 2. On mine, Side 1 is all the short songs. Have I been wrong all these years?

[@andrewmuttonandy]

What took you so long to review this masterpiece it been over 11 months since Five miles out

[@user-vv9it9ye4g]

Ok, you're ready to have your mind blown by Amarok. It's astounding! Go listen now. ...we'll wait.

[@rafaelvazquez6144]

Simon Philips y Stewart copeland maestros

[@davidukelele7575]

"The Lake" (1984) is even better

[@Mannizilla]

great, saw it live 1984 👍

[@lemming9984]

This is the first time listening to this in many years. I bought it on release and loved it, but for some reason went off it quite quickly. I really enjoyed hearing it again, but it doesn't hold up as well as Ommadawn or TB.

[@kenl2091]

Second part undoubtedly better than the first but why the vocals, Mike? You had Jon Anderson and Roger Chapman hanging around the studio. Why not use them?

[@sonnyhenriksen284]

Yeah, Jon Anderson would definitely improve the piece.

[@jimhardiman3836]

You could say the same about On Horseback. Here he's auraly depicting the frantic nature of a crisis. It's not supposed to sound pretty or polished.

[@DavidImiri]

I would never balk at more Jon Anderson guesting, but I thought Mike's vocals here worked very well, and apropos.

[@colinsmith2286]

Was this Mike's last great albumn

[@Mannizilla]

1984 Discovery great too and of course Amarok 1990

[@charleswagner2984]

Mike has twice as many great albums as he has good albums. He never made an awful album.

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

🌞🙊🙉🙈🔥✌️&❤

[@sicko_the_ew]

Er, enjoyed this but didn't have any verbiage to tip out on top of that, so this is not to say that. It's just that it's one of those times where the things that give rise to Irrelevant Comments seem to be plethorating. I didn't do it. It's just mayfly season for the musos or something. (Or something. Maybe I should change my stupid name to orsomething? That would be a bit less stupid.) Anyway, it's buried down there as usual. (And just imagine the Jack Russelling porcupine holing imagery yourself this time, if you need some.) *Devin Townsend* has taken a bit of a Cardiacs turn (in spirit, not directly musically). He has made a video titled *PowerNerd* that's quite possibly a one-off, but might be a new twist of the tail, which, either way, I think you might enjoy rather immensely. (And it's too short, if it turns out you don't.) Here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bl7almeXjdSShK8 (This could be wonderful if there's a whole album's worth of it.)

[@AriadneJC]

I wish this Oldfield guy would stop flaunting his ADHD at us. Why is each track a mashup of short ideas all mushed together and given some random title? One minute it's one thing, next minute it's something else, unrelated to what come prior and without any kind of musical consistency or theme?

[@Mannizilla]

So a 20 minute track with only one idea is better? 😆

[@AriadneJC]

@@Mannizilla For me? Yes, yes it is. I prefer deep dives and thorough examinations of a topic or theme to superficial surface skims.

[@Mannizilla]

@@AriadneJC Not for me, Crises is an album loved by millions around the world, 20 minutes one idea, I think that's a bit 🥱. Listen to Amarok, it's 60 minutes 😂.