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Incantations

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Incantations is Mike Oldfield's fourth studio album and was released on 1 December 1978 on Virgin Records. After Ommadawn he moved to Bisley in Gloucestershire and built a new studio there, where he recorded from December 1977 to September 1978. He wanted to use real incantations, but ended up with folklore as a connecting thread, such as Diana the Huntress. For the first time he wrote string arrangements himself, and there is also flute. The words come from poems by Henry Longfellow and Ben Jonson.

The record became a double album in four parts, each taking up one side of an LP. Terry Riley was a major influence, especially through his use of ostinato. Oldfield called the double vibraphone section in part four the closest he ever came to self-expression. The album reached number 14 in the United Kingdom, his first outside the top five, and led to his first solo tour.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Incantations, Pt. Four and notice the section with two vibraphones and the electric guitar solo that follows it.

Track list

  1. 1Incantations, Pt. One (Stereo Mix)19:08Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Incantations, Pt. Two (Stereo Mix)19:34Apple Music ↗
  3. 3Incantations, Pt. Three (Stereo Mix)16:59Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Incantations, Pt. Four (Stereo Mix)16:58Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Guilty (Bonus Track)4:14Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs