Mike Oldfield-Five Miles Out (1982)

During the 1980s, Mike Oldfield evolved his avant-garde style while simultaneously experimenting with other sounds, sometimes with success and sometimes with failure. One such experiment was "Five Miles Out", released in 1982, which marked the beginning of a recurring trend that would be reflected in all his subsequent work throughout the decade. This trend led him to fuse progressive repertoire, typically occupying one side of the original album, with pop-rock tracks on the other. Here, the suite that fills an entire side is "Taurus II", undoubtedly one of Mike Oldfield's most epic works. Although completely different from his usual 1970s style, it becomes a progressive piece seasoned with powerful percussion, dynamic melodies, electrifying guitar solos, and a relentless rhythm. The second side showcases Oldfield's more mainstream side, beginning with the pulsating "Family Man", featuring the superb vocals of the incomparable Maggie Reilly. This is followed by the instrumental "Orabidoo", thirteen superb minutes showcasing Oldfield's guitar work. "Mount Teide", a tribute to the volcano on the Spanish island of Tenerife, is another outstanding instrumental track with restrained power and beautiful melodies. Finally, there's the heartbreaking title track, inspired by the plane crash that nearly claimed his life and the lives of his band another energetic composition with soaring momentum and haunting vocals.