Mike Oldfield
Platinum

Now it's time to dance.

After spending energy and endless patience in putting together what is a great and fascinating journey into the Oldfieldian world, "Incantations", the prolific Mike decides it's time to start playing something a bit more commercial, thus opening a new phase in his career that will bring many economic satisfactions.

"Platinum" sees the light in 1979 and fully embraces the disco-electronic sounds of the period, in fact it is a work that greatly disconcerts fans, but it is definitely captivating and proves to be a well-aged wellspring of lively and danceable sounds and rhythms. The album is essentially dominated by the suite that gives the work its title, divided into four parts, all quite short (averaging five minutes), the first titled "Airborne" sees Mike emphasizing with guitar phrases a repetitive and hypnotic synth motif, which then gives way to an opening for percussion and drums always accompanied by synthetic sounds of flutes and other winds. With the second, "Platinum," Oldfield anticipates the rhythmic monotony of "Guilty" which will be released shortly after, an instrumental with a strong rhythmic dance charge and essential, always led by Mike on guitar, the third part is another engaging and successful danceable piece. For the fourth part Mike covers Philip Glass and his "North Star", managing to close in a sublime way with the choirs this personal excursion into contemporary sounds.
Following are shorter tracks, "Woodhenge" is a very pleasant ambient diversion, very relaxing with chimes and woodblocks marking the time, "Sally" is a song dedicated to the partner and mother of his daughter Molly, Sally Cooper, Mike writes: "Sally I'm Just A Gorilla/I'll Say I'll love You Ever More/Even An ape From Manila/Couldn't Stop Me Knocking On Your Door!" The song is sung by Wendy Roberts, Mike's latest discovery, and is a very simple and light track; it closes with a beautiful version of "I Got A Rhythm" by George Gershwin, also sung by Roberts.

In the end, listening to "Platinum" proves to be a pleasant experience and Oldfield almost never disappoints; although it is not to be counted among the essentials, it is still worth the purchase, not just for completists because some moments are very successful, and you will never hear such a danceable Mike again in the future.