Argiers - Mike Oldfield

As the CD liner notes suggest, this release was another successful attempt by Bedford "to fuse elements of classical and progressive rock music". This brief interpretation of Homer's epic story has somewhat more of a rock feel than "Mariner", but the haunting and hypnotic moods are still there, repeatedly interspersed as Penelope's Shroud between the discrete tracks, as well as within the angelic The Sirens (an amazingly effective interpretation of how those irresistibly seductive feminine voices might have sounded to Odysseus! - plus some of the absolutely finest Oldfield guitar I've ever heard) and Circe's Island (another very lovely haunting vocal track with some appropriately moody slide guitar work by Summers). Oldfield enthusiasts who have the "Collaborations" LP will already know of his superb work on The Phaeacian Games, but they will also want to hear his playing on the aforementioned The Sirens. And the CD ends off with the final piece, The Battle in The Hall, a pounding frantic collision of the various themes of the album that finally settles into a mellow reprise of the main theme (King Aeolus) and a quiet end.
So, for Oldfield enthusiasts, this is a must. For prog enthusiasts, this is a must. In fact, for every perspective other than strictly classical, I recommend this CD as a first Bedford purchase, for its accessibility, its rock-feel, its totally unique haunting mood, and because it is simply an excellent album. (Web oficial David Bedford)