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Evocative Music and Futuristic Music - Electronic Music Guide

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 22 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #900 in Music, #17110 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

Mythical or futuristic, electronic or "organic", but always evocative music!

 

A real feast for your ears and your imagination! Mike Oldfield, Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, Enya, Loreena Mckennitt... If you like the kind of music that carries you to remote places and times, don't look any further!

This lens is here to help you discover these very refreshing music artists. Their work is usually composed of rich and complex pieces along with others that are also good, but possibly more accessible for a first-time listener. So here's a step by step guide to get to know them smoothly. I hope to give you a fine bird's eye view of these artists' musical work and help you appreciate their greatly rewarding complex works!

Mike Oldfield Music 

The Master of Music Evocation

I remember the first time I listened to music from Mike Oldfield. I believe I was 9 years-old and was sick in bed that day, and my older brother was playing "The Complete" on a radio cassette player. I was stunned by the beauty and the magic this music emanated. There followed 20+ years during which I learned to appreciate the great richness of his work. So now I'm ready to help you in your first steps to discover a thrilling music world that will enchant your imagination. Ready?

Popular Mike Oldfield Music to Watch and Download 

Chances are you have already listened to some of Mike Oldfield's work on the radio. Here are some songs that you may be familiar with. But this is only for starters, be assured that there's a whole lot more to Mike Oldfield than these singles or popular music! A captivating world of great richness and complexity is waiting for you...

Moonlight Shadow mp3 Download on Amazon + video
The most popular Mike Olfield pop hit.


Moonlight Shadow

Mike Oldfield Moonlight Shadow





To France mp3 Download on Amazon + video
The second most popular hit...


To France


Maggie Reilly & Mike Oldfield - To France '84




Tubular Bells 2003 on Amazon + video
Unfortunately, not available on mp3 yet. You can listen to this modern single by watching the video. It is inspired in Olfield's breakthrough and bestselling album Tubular Bells.


Tubular Bells 2003
(+ Bonus DVD)

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells 2003






Get the other Mike Oldfield mp3 downloads on Amazon!

Mike Oldfield Music Stage I 

Entering Mike Oldfield's musical universe smoothly!

When I wanted to introduce my (then) girlfriend to Mike Oldfield's music, I made the fatal mistake of having her listen to my favorite piece Ommadawn. Well, it took her six years to get over it! So I'm not going to make the same mistake with you. If you want to get to know and appreciate Mike Oldfield, this is where you should start.

Tubular Bells III on Amazon + video
The most accessible "version" of Tubular Bells, contains good stuff such as Far Above the Clouds (watch video).


Tubular Bells III

Far Above the Clouds - Tubular Bells III




The Complete Mike Oldfield on Amazon + videos
One of the best compilations of Mike Oldfield's music. Includes a bit of everything (pop songs, short instrumental pieces, excerpts of complex works and even live performances.) Great introductory buy, especially considering that it carries lots of material not released in regular albums.


The Complete Mike Oldfield

Mike Oldfield - Blue Peter video Mike Oldfield - In Dulci Jubilo Mike Oldfield's Mount Teide





The Songs of Distant Earth on Amazon + video
Good futuristic album that works best as a whole. This is an evocative and relaxing work about our world, inspired in Arthur C. Clarke's science fiction book by the same title.


The Songs of Distant Earth

Mike Oldfield Let There Be Light

Mike Oldfield Music Stage II 

Ready for more complex and rich material? Then these are the right Mike Oldfield CDs to keep on discovering his music...

Tubular Bells II on Amazon + videos
Essential album. With this CD you are entering a more complex and rich section of Mike Oldfield's work, but in a smooth way since it's quite accessible.


Tubular Bells II

Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells II Live From Edimburg Mike oldfield




Islands on Amazon + video
Islands is a fine album with a bit of everything. Lots of pop songs and a fascinating 21+ minutes long piece called "Wind Chimes", which will soothe and thrill you and prepare your ears for even higher musical heights!


Islands

Mike Oldfield - The Wind Chimes (2)




Crises on Amazon + video
I would say this CD is an essential album just on account of "Crises" 20 minute-long piece. It is inspired in Tubular Bells, but it's a great work on its own, very intriguing and magical... The album also includes singles Moonlight Shadow and Shadow on the Wall, plus two other songs.


Crises

Mike Oldfield - Crises ( extract )




Music of the Spheres on Amazon + videos

Music of the Spheres is the latest music CD from Mike, and a great one too. It was written for and performed by an orchestra, with Mike on the Spanish guitar. I'm including it on this stage because it's quite accessible, but also rich and beautiful!


Music of the Spheres

Mike Oldfield - Animus Mike Oldfield - Shabda

Mike Oldfield Music Stage III 

The real deal!

Not exactly easy listening material, but once you "tame" them, they will reward you for years to come! Essential, or should I say quintessential, to grasp all that Mike's musical universe has to offer.

PS. And yes, my girlfriend back then, wife now, does like Ommadawn after all!

Hergest Ridge on Amazon + videos
Beautiful, nature-evoking and calm album, especially part I. It may be slightly more accessible than the others.


Hergest Ridge

mike oldfield Hergest Ridge mike oldfield Hergest Ridge - Rio de Janeiro




Tubular Bells on Amazon + videos
First Oldfield album, great masterpiece. You should probably either buy this original 1973 version or the 2003 "modernized" one. I only have the old one, but it's a matter of taste... And of course you can have both if you like. :)


Tubular Bells

Mike Oldfield - Montreux 1981 - Tubular Bells part 1a




Ommadawn on Amazon + videos
My favorite music work from Mike Oldfield and beyond! Not for a casual listener, though.


Ommadawn

Mike Oldfield - Montreux 1981 - Ommadawn 1/3 Mike Oldfield - Montreux 1981 - Ommadawn 2/3




Five Miles Out on Amazon + videos
Taurus 2 and Orabidoo, I love you!


Five Miles Out

Mike Oldfield - Taurus 2 (Excerpt, Live at the Roskilde Fest




Incantations on Amazon + videos
Near-classical music performed by fairies!


Incantations

Mike Oldfield - Exposed - Incantations 1/13




Amarok on Amazon + videos
I like it almost as much as Ommadawn. As Mike Oldfield has it, "This record could be hazardous to the health of cloth-eared nincompoops. If you suffer from this condition, consult your Doctor immediately."


Amarok

Amarok [excerpt] - Mike Oldfield




So here ends Mike Oldfield's section! There's still much to enjoy and discover: QE2, Discovery, Platinum and many other Oldfield albums have much to offer. Feel free to keep on discovering this thrilling musical realm!

Celtic-Inspired Magical Music 

Before switching to electronic and futuristic music, let's acknowledge that a magical music lens wouldn't be a magical music lens without celtic-inspired artists Enya and Loreena Mckennitt. They are already greatly covered on these lenses below...

Vangelis Music 

Just listen to his music and you'll be enchanted forever. Film soundtracks, ambient music, new age easy listening music, complex near-classical works... There's something for everyone! I'm sure that if you give a chance to Vangelis you'll learn to appreciate his unique magical touch and never forget it.

Popular Music Videos by Vangelis 

Vangelis - Chariots of Fire

Vangelis - Chariots... 1 point

1492 - Conquest of Paradise

1492 - Conquest of P... 0 points

Vangelis - Alpha

Vangelis - Alpha 0 points

Vangelis - Blade Runner

Vangelis - Blade Run... 0 points

Pulstar - Vangelis

Pulstar - Vangelis 0 points

HYMN -Vangelis

HYMN -Vangelis 0 points

Vangelis Stage 1 Music Videos 

Ready to begin your Vangelis discovery?

Introductory but very interesting Vangelis pieces. "Fractal Show" video is "Dial Out" from "Direct" album.

the Fractal Show part 5

the Fractal Show par... 0 points

Jon Anderson & Vangelis - Deborah

Jon Anderson & Vange... 0 points

Vangelis - Dreams Of Surf

Vangelis - Dreams Of... 0 points

Jon Anderson and Vangelis - The Friends of Mr. Cairo

Jon Anderson and Van... 0 points

PS

PS 0 points

Vangelis - Voices

Vangelis - Voices 0 points

Stage 1 Music CDs 

These are great compilations that provide a solid footing to build your appreciation of Vangelis music. They don't interfere with each other (that is, you won't end up with repeated copies of songs/pieces if you buy them all) and they contain material not released in regular albums, so they're indeed a good buy even if you intend to get all music from Vangelis!

I also added a few non-compilation introductory Vangelis albums at the end, and a link to all downloadable Vangelis MP3s on Amazon.

Reprise: 1990-1999

Reprise: 1990-1999

The hits from the nineties really flow and work










pe more...0 points

Themes

Themes

Unlike the previous CD, this one features great ea more...0 points

Vangelis - Greatest Hits

Vangelis - Greatest Hits

Same as Themes, but with a completely different se more...0 points

Chronicles

Chronicles

A compilation including many songs by Vangelis and more...0 points

Chariots Of Fire

Chariots Of Fire

Not a compilation, but this score from the famous more...0 points

Direct

Direct

Direct is an accessible album that is closer to pu more...0 points

Voices

Voices

Another nice and accessible album by Vangelis.0 points

Vangelis MP3 downloads

Vangelis MP3 downloads

All Vangelis MP3 downloads on Amazon0 points

Vangelis Stage 2 Music Videos 

Deep, rich and fascinating works already!

Vangelis - Reve

Vangelis - Reve 1 point

Creation Du Monde-Vangelis (full version)

Creation Du Monde-Va... 0 points

Columbus - Monastery of La Rabida

Columbus - Monastery... 0 points

La Mort Du Loup

La Mort Du Loup 0 points

Beautiful Bojnice castle (Vangelis-Conquest of paradise)

Beautiful Bojnice ca... 0 points

Vangelis - Antarctica

Vangelis - Antarctic... 0 points

le singe bleu - Vangelis. A tribute

le singe bleu - Vang... 0 points

VANGELIS - LA MER RECOMMENCE

VANGELIS - LA MER RE... 0 points

Autumn

Autumn 0 points

Stage 2 Music CDs 

L'Apocalypse Des Animaux (1972 TV Documentary)

L'Apocalypse Des Animaux (1972 TV Documentary)

L'Apocalypse Des Animaux and Opera Sauvage are ric more...1 point

Opera Sauvage

Opera Sauvage

See "L'Apocalypse des Animaux" comment.1 point

1492: Conquest of Paradise

1492: Conquest of Paradise

Antartica and 1492 are great film scores featuring more...0 points

Vangelis Stage 3 Music Videos 

Spiral, China, Soil Festivities, Blade Runner... We're deep into Vangelis universe, now there's no turning back! ;)

Too bad there's no available video for "Soil Festivities", but I'm sure you'll enjoy all the others.

The Tao of Love - Vangelis

The Tao of Love - Va... 1 point

Spiral Galaxy

Spiral Galaxy 0 points

Vangelis - Chung Kuo [Live]

Vangelis - Chung Kuo... 0 points

#118.Ouran Host Club- Rachel's Song

#118.Ouran Host Club... 0 points

Blade Runner: Memories Of Green (4)

Blade Runner: Memori... 0 points

To the Unknown Man

To the Unknown Man 0 points

Stage 3 Music CDs 

Spiral

Spiral

0 points

China

China

0 points