Customer Reviews
Best album, best sleeve ever ?! - By: Mr. Dc Nelson, 11 Dec 2007 
My favourite album of alll time. Has a kind of spiritual quality as opposed to/as well as an emotional one. It can envelope you like a great film. Just awesome. So original it is beyond categorisation. Awesome guitar work by Oldfield, hauntingly beautiful Homeward Bound. I just love this work soooo much. Makes you glad to be alive. Wiith cover art by Gutav Dore this must be the coolest album cover ever ! This is art which stretches the boundaries.
David Bedford's finest? - By: Steve, 28 Oct 2007 This recording was released in the 1970's, on, of course, L.P. Those of us around at the time well remember the appallling quality of many vinyl pressings then (there was an oil crisis, & recycled vinyl was used for many pressings). It took me three attempts to get a good copy of this. What first drew my attention to the disc was a short section from it, 'Homeward Bound', which was played on the radio by the late, great, John Peel. This is sung by the young ladies of Queen's College, London, & a hauntingly beautiful moment it is.
It's quite difficult to describe the musical style of the album as a whole. Bits of melody here & there, some general sound effects, & a couple of moments which make the spine tingle. One of these is when the Mariner comes across the Angel of Death; this is a sudden, shocking moment where the narrator, Robert Powell (a fine performance throughout) is suddenly heard in a weird, distorted, voice, as though from beyond the grave. You won't forget it.
There is that wonderful traditional song, 'Homeward Bound' which I've mentioned, & there's a point where Mike Oldfield comes in with electric guitar adding a real bit of that 'tingle factor' to this amazing piece. I reallly don't think Bedford has produced a finer work, one which exists somewhere between popular & classical. It draws to a suitably calm close. A close that was ruined on the old L.P.s by inevitable clicks & pops. Well thank God for CDs.
There are only two tracks on this CD. So you can't go straight to 'Homeward Bound', which you may well want to. But the work's only 40 minutes long, & you need to hear it alll. In 1970's speak, it's an experience.
I urge you to try it.
One of Bedford's Best... - By: , 19 Apr 2000 A wonderful telling of the poem, narrated hauntingly by Robert Powell, (of Jesus of Nazareth fame).
This piece links together narration, vocals, Bedford's distinct piano & Mike Oldfield's unmistakeable sound, to create an overalll journey with the Mariner, through disease & death to ultimate salvation through his penance.
Highlights: most of part two, but the finale *The Rio Grande* is beautiful.
