The Millennium Bell
is an attempt by
Mike Oldfield
to encapsulate 2,000 years of history with 11 slices of
world music
experimentation. From the Incan commemorative
"Pacha Mama"
to
"Amber Lights,"
a celebration of political reform in South Africa, this album attempts to cover immense psychic territory. At some point, even the staunchest
Oldfield
supporters could end up questioning this odd and at times pretentious effort. The music is typical
: plodding, repetitive
new age
, sprinkled with some gentle melodic elements and sonic invention. The sparsely placed talk lines boost the minimal narrative at times, while choirs and
orchestral
elements add nice support to
's instruments. Ambitious to say the least, perhaps the composer is taking himself and his subjects too seriously here. In fact,
is certain to come off to some people as obvious and full of itself, but to less cynical listeners and loyal fans it might play like an interesting and unique lesson. ~ Vincent Jeffries