Customer Reviews
Excellent Piece Of Work - By: AJ, 31 Mar 2008 
This is a fantastic album from Mike Oldfield every track is great with lots of singing by various artists on it,dont expect instrumental work here.The opening track Islands is superb with the lovely Bonnie Tyler belting her lungs out absolutely fantastic.The whole album is great & different to a lot of Mikes earlier albums.Also check out his album Discovery quite similar to Islands.Great stuff;
Lovely - By: msputh, 06 Dec 2007 What a talented man, from a very talented family. Check out his brother Harry who talks to crystals & everything.
One of the better albums, to me... - By: C. Gudgeon, 05 Sep 2007 
'The Wind Chimes' (instrumental)- great opening piece (Part 1), followed by an unfocused Part 2, which perhaps could've done with a song section, like on Taurus II from Five Miles Out.
'Islands' - one of his best songs so far! Mike tends to score well with his title tracks songs. I prefer this to 'When The Night's On Fire' (which, to me, is less-focused). I do wonder which song was developed from which?
'Flying Start' - okay. Not one of my favourites.
'North Point' - lovely! Haunting, with a great guitar performance!
'Magic Touch' - great song! A positive reflection of when things 'click together' in your life, & your soul can be truly happy. And that's how this track makes me feel.
'The Time Has Come' - a bit OTT on the sound production here. An okay song.
Overalll, a strong album. The videos for alll of the tracks, bar 'When The Night's On Fire', are on the DVD 'Elements'.
Still it's good........................ - By: Mr. J. Hulme, 04 May 2007 I love this CD in parts, I find it so moving in parts. Then there is the opposite with a few tracks. But you can, if needed skip them, but if possible you should play it alll away through at least every other play.
1.The Wind Chimes: It is a good long meandering piece that has lots of different sounds & feels to it. From the beautiful to the punchy bits. It has the plinkity pluck trade mark of Mikes acoustic guitar & the electric guitar sound you can recognise at a split second. Love parts, like it overalll, maybe not to what it deserves. Forgive the old cliche, but you do hear bits you have either forgotten or had not heard before. This is the third time I have played this track, one after another. I am saying I love it in parts & overalll I love it, there are just the odd.......
2.Islands: Bonnie Tylers voice is at it's gravel best, she can stone wash your jeans just by singing. A great song, nice powerful beat drives it. Should be on a radio 2 playlist. Good.
3.Flying Start: This is the first of the crap, do not like this one little bit, lyrics are childish. Sort of Roger Whittaker done to an up tempo beat, thank god no whistling, quickly becames irritating. Good point is if you want a sing a long this is the one & it only lasts 3mins 37. But there again if you want a singalong what are you listening to Mike oldefield for?
4.North Point. Love this track, a great tune & lovely lyrics, haunting.
5.Magic Touch: European trash, visions of bad hair & shoulder pads, 80's at it's worst!
6.The Time Has Come: Overblown? If it is? I still love it, the great voice of Anita Hegerland is back again. This is alll what is good about the 80's big production, lovely emotional ride.
7.When The Nights On Fire: Again big production number, ghostly Celtic feel with the pomp & greatness that is Mike Oldfield. And it's two can & not Toucan.....
This is Mike Oldfield going through his pop/rock stage, platinium, QE2 & this are prime examples. Just bear with him as there are some great tunes. Especiallly the Ommadwan type music on Wind Chimes part 2.
Full of colour - a fine album - By: J. Smith, 30 Nov 2004 I was very unsure of this album on first play. However, I should have known better, as so much of Oldfield's music reveals its quality only after repeated listening. Side one is taken up by The Wind Chimes, a 20 minute or so instrumental, divided into two parts & inspired in part by the music of Indonesia. Part 1 is a short overture, in orchestral style, that introduces one of the main themes of the piece. Part two is full of shifting moods, tempos & recurring themes. Although appearing disjointed on first hearing, repeated plays reveal an imaginatively constructed piece that sounds as good today as it did in 1987. It is certainly one of my favourite Oldifled instrumentals. Side two contains 6 songs. Although the song form may not be Oldfield's strongest suit, each of these is pleasant & melodic (vocalists including Bonnie Tyler, Kevin Ayres, Anita Hegerland & Jim Price)and When The Night's On Fire (bonus track)is particularly stirring.
Although maybe not in the premier league of Oldfield's output, & not having the emotional content of the likes of Ommadawn et al, Islands is a reallly enjoyable, bright, colourful album & The Wind Chimes is a piece of lasting worth.
