Mike Oldfield and Gandalf

[Riva]

New Age. It's a genre that most people disregard as merely something that hippies meditate to, nothing for the serious music fan. However, there are two major players in the genre which, despite being on opposite sides of Europe, have created beautiful music for over two decades now. They are Mike Oldfield, born in Reading, UK, and Gandalf (Heinz Strobl) who was born in Austria.

I have been a major fan of Mike Oldfield, a fanboy if you will, for many years now. I first heard his debut, and most famous album, Tubular Bells and instantly fell in love. I began collecting his albums voraciously, and I still am. The intertwining melodies, produced by the large varieties of instruments that Mike plays, simply strike the right note with me, everytime. I have yet to hear an album by him that I don't like. In fact, it could be said that I love every thing he has done. Hehe, I am a fanboy.

Gandalf, whilst being very similar to Mike, does tend towards a more folk aspect, and incoporates various elements of metal, whereas Mike focuses on rock. I have not been a fan as long, indeed, I was only introduced two days ago to his album Between Earth & Sky, by the always gracious IAmTheBlackWizard. Nevertheless, I instantly felt an affinity for his music, and I was entranced throughout the entire album. It's safe to say that I shall now be endeavouring to collect his work, also.

So, then, you may enquire, argue and discuss whatever you wish about these two fine musicians.


Some Links
http://www.gandalf.at/index.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandalf_%28new_age%29

www.http://www.mikeoldfield.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Oldfield

Some Reviews on Mike
http://www.sputnikmusic.com/bands.php?bandid=2177

[G_Mac07]

Hmmm, this Gandalf character sounds like he could be pretty interesting. I think I will find the Folk influence should be pretty interesting, as Folk influenced metal is something I've become a fan of recently. I might have to give him a listen whilst I'm trying to get my hands on the mammoth amounts of stuff Mike Oldfield has released. Tubural Bells is incredible.

[Riva]

Yeah, I can upload a sampler for you, if you like, Greg. The only problem is that his first 4 albums are all composed of songs between 10 and 26 minutes in length. :)

Also, Gandalf isn't metal at all, merely he introduces aspects of it and folk throughout his music.

[G_Mac07]

Oh, I wasn't meaning to imply that I thought Gandalf would be metal in any way, but that I've recently begun to appreciate Folk influence musicians more.

[Nepenthe]

If anyone would like Gandalf's greatest hits Between Earth And Sky, you can post your email here. Truly majestic and beautiful music. Nice thread Jason!

Jason, as I've told you I've heard selected pieces off of Tubular Bells, Amarok, Discovery, Islands, and Voyager and quite liked it all. I'm fairly certain all of those are from different times in his career, so I'm going to say I'd probably like all of his different styles and whatnot. But where would you say is the best place to start for collecting Mike's work?

Here's my best description of Gandalf for everyone who'd like one, and I'm taking this from what I told someone in the Folk/Viking Metal Thread in Rock/Metal:
Utopia. Lush exotic instrumentation atop majestic and sweeping soundscapes with other various chants, percussion, electric guitar, and other various sound effects all come together to create a livein, breathing, world, that shifts and changes subtly over it's entirety but always remains true to what the song's groundworks are. Pretty much, his music is what I'd expect Utopia to sound/feel like.

Heh, it's a pretty amusing story of how I came across Gandalf. About three years ago, I was searching for songs on Limewire for a melodic death band called Gandalf, and when all that came up was all these twelve minute songs with names like Heartbeat Of The Universe and Along The Milky Way, I was confused. For some reason though, I was captured by the names of the songs, and decided to just download Heartbeat Of The Universe anyway. All I can say is, it's been my greatest accidental find ever.

[Riva]

Hehe, yeah, my music folder on my computer now has two Gandalfs.

I'd say that if you liked all of those, then there's no real point for you to specifically start from. If you like, get the three Tubular Bells albums, that is: Tubular Bells, Tubular Bells II and Tubular Bells III, then go from there. I've reviewed his first three and his latest on Sputnik, so go have a look if you like.

[G_Mac07]

gregbyers @gmail.com

IAmTheBlackWizard, I'd love a Gandalf sampler. :)

Thanks.

[DanD]

alldunn9999999 @yahoo.com

This sounds interesting, I'd like to check it out.

[Nepenthe]

Sent. If you got it twice GMac sorry. Hope you guys like.

[Txus]

I would like a sampler of this guys, they sound great.

txus.mx@gmail.com

Thanks in advanced.

[Riva]

Oh great, now I have to make an Oldfield sampler. :(

[Txus]

Oh great, now I have to make an Oldfield sampler. :(
If you don't have the time then don't man.....

[G_Mac07]

If you don't have the time then don't man.....

Sshhhhh! Don't tell Jason that, I want more (easy to find) Oldfield. :p

[Txus]

Sshhhhh! Don't tell Jason that, I want more (easy to find) Oldfield. :p
Then do it bitch :p

[DanD]

I'm listening to the Gandalf album that BlackWizard sent out right now. It's pretty good, I like it. It's really laid back, and the compositions are quite impressive and exquisite. I can really notice the folkish influence too, which is pretty cool.

I'm always looking for new music, I never thought that to look into "new age," I guess. Thanks Riva and Wizard.

[Woodstock]

I'm a big Mike Oldfield fanboy too, so I so suppose I should check out Gandalf.

Btw, Ommadawn > Tubular Bells (only slightly)

[Nepenthe]

Sent to Txus. Woodstock, if you want the greatest hits post your email and I'll send it to you.

NP: Gandalf - Peaceful Heart

[Broken Arrow]

I have Gandalf's s/t. Well atleast I think it's the same Gandalf your talking about.

I also have Tubular Bells on viynl.

[Txus]

Thanks Wizard, Megaupload hates me so I'll dowload it later on.

[Dinosaur_vs_Robot]

Could I possibly check out some Gandalf? - enjoyeatingpandas@hotmail.com

[Txus]

This Gandalf album is great, thanks Wizard I'm really enjoying the whole LOTR ambient :D

[Nepenthe]

Could I possibly check out some Gandalf? - enjoyeatingpandas@hotmail.com

Sent. Hope you enjoy it.

[G_Mac07]

I was expecting the Gandalf stuff to just be a sampler, but it turned out to be a whole album. That was a nice surprise. The level of enjoyment I got whilst listening to it was a pleasant surprise as well. I'm going to have to investigate more of his works at some point. Thanks BlackWizard. :thumb:

[Dinosaur_vs_Robot]

Yeh cheers its the biz. Has anoyone listened to Enya?

[Riva]

Ugh. I can understand how people draw comparisons between Kitaro, Mike Oldfield and Gandalf, but Enya is just far too poppy and annoying.

[Dinosaur_vs_Robot]

Hokay

[Riva]

Ok, I think what I'm going to do is use Audacity to chop parts of Mike's longer songs into smaller bits, and send part of each out in a sampler, along with full songs from his newer albums.

[LF96]

I have been a major fan of Mike Oldfield, a fanboy if you will, for many years now. I first heard his debut, and most famous album, Tubular Bells and instantly fell in love. I began collecting his albums voraciously, and I still am. The intertwining melodies, produced by the large varieties of instruments that Mike plays, simply strike the right note with me, everytime. I have yet to hear an album by him that I don't like. In fact, it could be said that I love every thing he has done. Hehe, I am a fanboy.
Have you ever heard Earth Moving? Cause, really, that album is awful. Actually I think he hasn't made much interesting stuff in the 80s. Luckily almost all of em have one or two interesting songs which make it worth listening. Earth Moving, however, hasn't got any nice songs imo, only some cool guitar solo's here and there.
His early work (his first four albums especially) is awesome though.

I'd like to check out this Gandalf guy out as well, so if anyone wants to send a link or something to mcemmer@ hotmail.com, that'd be much appreciated.

[Nepenthe]

Sent. Hope you enjoy.

I just recieved Gandalf's Galley Of Dreams. It's a very good disc. It had a few tracks that surprised me. There was some shredding, some real drumming, and real female vocals throughout an entire song. But other than those 3 songs, the rest was good old majestic Gandalf. The entire disc is a little bit more upbeat as a whole than alot of his other stuff though.

[LF96]

Thanks a lot for the upload, I just finished my first full listening and must say I'm impressed. I hadn't really expected it to sound like it does, but it came out very nice nonetheless. Probably the best new age artist I've heard in a while.

I've found this supercool video of Mike Oldfield playing a folky traditional song called William Tell Overture. I'm guessing this should be made around the time of Ommadawn. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZbBsnP6rQA&search=mike%20oldfield

[munky_magik]

Is this album worth £5.00 then?

[Txus]

Is this album worth £5.00 then?
The Gandalf album?

[munky_magik]

The Gandalf album?
I should have specified :-/

Tubular Bells is what I was asking about.

[G_Mac07]

^ Yes.

[Riva]

Of course it is Ali. Have I ever let you down?

LF96: Holy crap! I love that video. Brilliant.

[munky_magik]

Well you had better be right because I just went and bought it.


EDIT: Ok, so you were right this time And those other times. But you're bound to be wrong at somepoint.

[JamJar]

Mike Oldfield is fantastic. I only have Amarok, Tubular Bells and Incantations and need more. I'm also really interested in hearing some Gandalf.

[Iron Bars]

Could ou sent me the Gandalf album IATBW? jvm360@hotmail.com.

This sounds very interesting and I'll be awaiting the Oldfield sampler in the DU.

[JamJar]

I would also appreciate the Gandalf album.

fuzz_meister@hotmail.com

cheers.

[Nepenthe]

Sent.

We need an actual New Age Thread. I just got a Mike Hewett album and I really enjoy it.

[the2stranger]

Hey Wizard.
I Hope I'm not too late or annoying, but I would love the album too.

peter_time (at) hotmail.com

thanks :)

[Nepenthe]

Sent.

I'm doing my end of the year essay in English on New Age. Should be fun.

[Riva]

Well, I uploaded Tubular Bells II for a friend. If anyone wants it, I'll email the link to you also.

[Txus]

I would like that Riva.

Txus.mx@gmail.com

Thanks.

[Riva]

Sent. :)
Hopefully you'll like it.

It's different to his first 4 albums. Much more lighthearted. He even pokes fun at himself. And one of the songs has vocalists who sing actual words. :eek:

[DanD]

If you could Riva, I'd really appreciate it.

alldunn9999999 @yahoo.com

Thanks

[Riva]

Sent. Hope you like it. Tell me what you think.

[Txus]

This album is really good jason, thanks for it. I may purchase the original when I have some money :)

[DanD]

Sent. Hope you like it. Tell me what you think.
Wow, I forgot that I asked for this, and for some reason the email got sent to the spam folder, so I didn't notice it until now. Thanks.

I'm listening to this right now and I'm really liking it. I'm listening to "The Bell" and I'm loving how he introduces all of the instruments, I don't know why, but for some reason I find it kind of funny. :lol:

[Riva]

It's supposed to be funny. It's sort of a lighthearted poke at his first album Tubular Bells where the ending of part one is done the same, but more seriously. The entire album is quite humourous, actually.

EDIT: Tubular Bells III is also here for anyone who wants it.

[G_Mac07]

Oh man, Tubular Bells II was awesome. I enjoyed it more than the original TB, which I'm not sure is normal. Anyway, it was great. Thanks Jason. :thumb:

[Nepenthe]

Yeah, II is a classic. III is very good as well (thanks a ton for this one Jason). Nothing beats the original though.

[Riva]

So, all my Tubular Bells II listening life, I've been thinking, "Gee, the announcer sounds a lot like Alan Rickman" but in the booklet he's listed as "a wandering player". I just checked on the internet, and it is him. Hurrah!