I’ve wondered why Mike Oldfield (Tubular Bells, English guitarist and smart composer, New-Agey prog rock but deep…out there) seemed so popular in Spain.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s an appeal to a sense of the deeply tragic going on, well-designed but emotionally intense songs; compositions with some classical influence and historical context, but still functioning as popular/bar songs.
He manages to work with excellent singers too.
Going For Baroque (get it?):
I imagine a bunch of little kids slowly waking-up in a loft, daylight breaking through shutters, the cobwebs of sleep still filling the room.
A simple wonder at the architecture of things:
Blimey Mike Oldfield. Listened to a lot of Tubular Bells when studying for O levels in 75. Didn’t do me a great deal of good. Is he still going?
Simon,
He’s still around! He’s got a homepage with tour dates. He was really big in Spain while I was there. Couldn’t quite figure that one out.
Obviously, you should have listened to The Kinks