Mike Oldfield – Amarok (1990) – Half-Speed Mastered 2LP Vinyl Review
Hi, Phil Aston here from Now Spinning Magazine with another album review — and this time we’re looking at the new reissue of Mike Oldfield’s Amarok, originally released in 1990 and now beautifully presented as a 2LP half-speed-mastered edition cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios.
Back in 1990, Amarok was something of a mystery to many listeners — a single, uninterrupted 60-minute piece of music that ignored every pop convention imaginable. It marked a turning point in Oldfield’s career, one driven as much by frustration as by inspiration. After years of pressure from Virgin Records to deliver more radio-friendly hits like Family Man and Moonlight Shadow, he decided to do the complete opposite — to create something that couldn’t be easily marketed or packaged.
The result was Amarok — a sprawling, intricate, continuously evolving composition that blends folk, classical, and Celtic influences with flashes of African rhythms, surreal humour, and unmistakable guitar work. Recorded largely in his home studio in Buckinghamshire, it was both a personal statement and, in some ways, a musical protest. There’s even a cheeky Morse code message aimed at Richard Branson hidden in the mix — and it’s not particularly polite!
This new half-speed-mastered edition really brings the album’s sonic landscape to life. The pressing quality is superb — quiet surfaces, rich dynamics, and a depth that lets every instrument breathe. The acoustic guitars shimmer, the percussion hits with real impact, and when Oldfield switches to electric guitar, that unmistakable tone cuts through perfectly. It’s a wonderfully clean pressing too — I never clean new records before playing them, and this one was flawless straight out of the poly-lined inner sleeves.
As a listening experience, Amarok can still feel overwhelming at times — and it’s certainly not background music. It demands attention and rewards repeated listens. The humour, the spoken voices, and the experimental moments might not be for everyone (I’ll admit those parts don’t completely work for me), but there’s no denying the sheer brilliance of the musicianship and ambition here.
For those who consider Amarok to be up there with Tubular Bells, Ommadawn, and Hergest Ridge, this edition will be a must-have. For others, it’s a fascinating glimpse into the mind of an artist pushing back against expectation — an album that captures Oldfield’s fierce independence and creative restlessness.
Whatever your take, this new 2LP edition does justice to the music and to the man behind it. If you love Mike Oldfield’s work, you’ll be blown away by the clarity and warmth of this pressing.
Remember, as I always say — music is the healer and the doctor.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
