The Songs of Distant Earth

by Mike Oldfield

Overview

Mike Oldfield's The Songs of Distant Earth was inspired by a book by science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, who gave the album a ringing endorsement in the liner notes. Of course, the association between literature and music is something more felt than generally understood, and while Oldfield's recording was shot through with sound effects that seemed to relate to space travel (countdowns, etc.), it was less reminiscent of any writing than it was of earlier works by Oldfield. And though by 1996 Oldfield could make some claim to being the godfather not only of new age but of the recently popular version of it steeped in Celtic music (i.e., Enya), he remained grounded in progressive rock so that, with its recurrent backbeat and stately, but penetrating guitar solos, his music continued to seem closer to Pink Floyd than to Windham Hill.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/13/2008
Label:	Warner Spec. MKT. Uk
UPC:	0745099854225
catalogNumber:	998542
Rank:	43099

Tracks

1. In the Beginning
2. Let There Be Light
3. Supernova
4. Magellan
5. First Landing
6. Oceania
7. Only Time Will Tell
8. Prayer For the Earth
9. Lament For Atlantis
10. The Chamber
11. Hibernaculum
12. Tubular World
13. The Shining Ones
14. Crystal Clear
15. The Sunken Forest
16. Ascension
17. A New Beginning

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mike Oldfield   Primary Artist
Tallis Scholars   Vocals
Cori Josias   Vocals
Ella Harper   Vocals
Mike Joseph   Tape
David Nickless   Vocals
Roame   Vocals
Verulam Consort (Members Of)   Vocals
Pandit Dinesh   Tabla
Molly Oldfiend   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Mike Oldfield   Composer,Producer,Engineer
Mark Rutherford   Rhythm Loops
Sugar J.   Rhythm Loops
Rob Dickins   Executive Producer
Eric Cadieux   Programming
Arthur C. Clarke   Liner Notes
Clive Banks   Management
Bill Smith   Art Direction