Mike Oldfield – Incantations

The incredible final of part 4 with vibraphone and vocals, that i used to listen apart of all album in some tapes at beginning of eighties seems a natural path towards Oldfield's future vocal masterpieces in 80s albums. Amazing.

Possibly my favorite Mike Oldfield release, but it is too long. The second part of Part 2 (so-called) "Song of Hiawatha" comes across as a stodgy recital, which should have been dropped. It being featured at the end of Part 4 is more than enough.

All in all the album is a joyous release of uplifting minimalism. But In the CD age I would have wanted the album recast, as a trim 60 minute one track release.

Is Incantations a masterpiece? Definitely. It's a new direction from the first trilogy and also totally unique. Nothing else sounds like this. Then again nothing else sounds like Tubular Bells and nobody even tried to mimic it, because they could't I guess! I hearing Incantations in 1991 and it's forever made an impression on me and as years go by it's just getting better and better with every listen. How did he conceive this brilliant music? Who knows, but we don't care as we love it!

I agree with others over the missing matrix/runout. Mine reads:
Side A: VDT 101 A5 (Lyre symbol)
Side B: VDT 101 B5 (Lyre symbol)
Side C: VDT 101 C8 (Lyre symbol)
Side D: VDT 101 D7 (Lyre symbol(
In addition, sides C and D have "Made in " etched into the deadwax despite both labels saying "Made in England"

Indeed this does seem to need some updating as mine does not correspond to any of those listed above. Now here's the thing and this now becomes more important as time progresses folks, I did not buy this second hand via sale, or eBay or record fair so that I feel misled and want affirmation that mine is a first pressing as it was claimed to be.I

Oh No Folks, here's the big rub. I am aged 58 and I actually bought my copy on the exact day it was first released in England. I was 16 and loved all of Mike's previous albums so much.

I had been saving up especially to buy this double album and finally had enough money to buy it from WM Morrisons (yes back then both Asda and Morrisons used to have departments for vinyl and cassette sales).
So I really do know my edition is a first pressing despite it's matrix lettering not complying with anyone listed, because I bought it on its first day of release. This is now finally when older age can prove things are different to what out beloved interweb says ?!?!I

So to set things straighter (!?!?) My matrix run outs are :-
Side one VDT 101 A5
Side two VDT 101 B1
Side three VDT 101 C5
Side four VDT 101 D5

All of them have a harp or lyre type symbol further round the dead wax on all sides and nothing else at all.
Mention is made above of a " Utopian " symbol perhaps that is what this harp type symbol means, I dunno, not being a big fan of symbology !

So I DO know that mine was bought on day of release , fact. Therefore would someone at Discogs please amend the info above as it is just not complete or correct?

Finally a use for being old ! I can confirm whether my vinyl collection is full of first pressings , most of them will be as I always bought my albums on day of release or within two weeks thereof. Trouble is with some clever know it alls, if it isn't confirmable via Discogs then you aren't correct. Which is a laugh really isn't it? Considering that as with my copies of Closer and Still that don't quite match up fully to what it says it should on here. I know exactly that they WERE bought on the day of release. Fact!

All the best fellow music collectors and fans.

I'm sure there was a Quad mix of this released, either around 1978 or 1979. My neighbour bought it to show off his Quad system and, from what I can , it sounded absolutely amazing.

There seems to be several dead wax listings missing on this one
Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side A): VDT 101 A10
Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side B): VDT 101 B10
Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side C): VDT 101 C11
Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side D): VDT 101 D1
With a Harp like design stamped on all 4 sides

My copy of this has the following deadwax info (needs added to the list?):

Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side A): VDT 101 A3
Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side B): VDT 101 B4
Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side C): VDT 101 C10
Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side D): VDT 101 D2

This, to me, is the greatest album by Mike Oldfield. Its long, and on this album in particular Mike gives each theme time to grow and evolve in ways that he didn't let happen on previous albums. Sometimes on those albums new themes seem to bump up uncomfortably to the previous one. Incantations is a more relaxed and inspirational affair.

A paean to great strong leaders, be they female, the goddess Diana, or male, The peacemaker Hiawatha. The beautiful repetetive music, sometimes reminds one of Steve Reich, but it never goes into the esoteric stratosphere, it is firmly based on melody. (special recognition must be given to Pierre Moerlin for his excellent percussion work.)

This is a fantastic album. give Incantations a listen and you'll be hooked for quite a while.