2. Mike OldfieldHergest Ridge
I went to see Mike Oldfield while in the womb apparently. I think it would have been in Ipswich, presumably in late 1980. Part One of Hergest Ridge moves me to tears, such is its pastoral beauty. It’s named after a lovely hill in Herefordshire, which I am saving as my final hill to wander up from the list of 176 English Marilyns.
Similar to the ELO situation, Brits have never really openly appreciated Oldfield as much as he deserves. He’s adored in southern Europe though. There should be a proper study into what it says about modern Britain that Mike Oldfield is not widely worshipped as an entity from a higher domain.
Some of his pop singles are brilliant too. The guitar solo and outro of ‘To France’ is one of the most majestic things I have ever heard. Just triumphant. They ought to update the Morris Dancers repertoire to include Mike Oldfield at his most triumphant. There is no shame in prancing about to the music of Mike Oldfield and feeling delighted to be alive. They should play the ‘To France’ outro to stop people starting wars. It just puts everything in proper perspective. It’s very difficult to make a song with such a power, but when it does happen it tends to be cyclical folk-like melodies.
