Mike Oldfield
Platinum
Review by John Pierpoint
After a string of successful instrumental albums (Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge, Ommadawn and Incantations), Mike Oldfield’s eagerly awaited next album Platinum came as something of a surprise to many. He had recently been trying out different sounds, including an electro-bop dance single “Guilty” (recorded in New York) and a new theme for BBC TV’s popular “Blue Peter” children’s programme (a personal favourite of mine!). The general drift was away from the solo, acoustic and folk sensibilities of his first albums, towards a more collaborative, electric and pop environment.
So Platinum is a marker in Oldfield’s career: the first of a series of recordings that would bring him repeated chart success in both the single and album markets, his first attempt at recording and touring with a small (dare I say “traditional”) pop band, and a move towards shorter, punchier, more commercial tunes. For those who prefer Oldfield’s earlier style, there is still much to enjoy, particularly the multi-part title track (split into four tracks on the CD version).
The “short” tunes are all joined (sometimes slightly overlapping in the mix), so in fact, the effect is closer to the one track per side experience that Oldfield fans would be used to. The production by long-time collaborator Tom Newman is excellent: bright and cutting, with clear definition and frequency allocation for all instruments, establishing a radio-friendly sound.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2013 Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.
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