The third-most-famous member of the Oldfield family, after brother Mike and sister Sally, flutist/producer Terry Oldfield has followed his own muse throughout his extensive catalog. His music is in an easy style to dismiss -- flute solos over a melding of mellow progressive rock, new age, and a wide variety of indigenous musics -- but this 15-track compilation shows that Oldfield is far more interesting than many who work in this genre. A bit of a globe-trotter, Oldfield takes pains to actually visit countries and learn ...
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The third-most-famous member of the Oldfield family, after brother Mike and sister Sally, flutist/producer Terry Oldfield has followed his own muse throughout his extensive catalog. His music is in an easy style to dismiss -- flute solos over a melding of mellow progressive rock, new age, and a wide variety of indigenous musics -- but this 15-track compilation shows that Oldfield is far more interesting than many who work in this genre. A bit of a globe-trotter, Oldfield takes pains to actually visit countries and learn their native musical styles rather than simply learning about them second-hand from old Nonesuch Explorer LPs, which means that the worldbeat influences are both better-integrated and much less cynical sounding. (There are people making world fusion records who you'd swear have never been more than 30 miles away from a McDonalds in their lives.) It also helps that Oldfield is a talented arranger and composer, able to take familiar elements like the Enya-like breathy female vocals of several songs and the almost trip-hop groove of the new remix of "Spirit of India" and make them sound fresh. Reflections: The Best of Terry Oldfield proves that Oldfield is not likely to make confirmed new age haters change their minds, but he's among the top ranks of his chosen style. ~ Stewart Mason, Rovi
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