Five stars out of Five for "Five Miles out"

after more sober and celtic influenced "Qe2" mike rearanged his style adding a lot of heavy guitars and hard drumming and returned with "FIve Miles out" - propably his best album from eigthies.
the opening almost half hour long "Taurus II" is a suprising continuation of QE2 main long track."Taurus II" starts with a heavy main guitar riff and eveloves suddenly into great progressive rock suite with celtic elements,disco beat and a lot of great drumming.it is one of the best Mike's moments in his whole career.
"Family man" is a ironic fast catchy pop song (Maggie Reilly on vocals) that was a big hit across the europe - later covered by Hall and Oates synth pop duet.
"Orabidoo" is another great hypnotic track with a transe drums and vocoder voice singing mysterious lyrics about flying over Katmandu.the coda with piano riff repeated by other instruments is one of the most moving and exciting melodies from his longer tracks."Orabidoo" ends with irish song sung by Maggie.
"Mount teide" is nice instrumental with lovely guitar solo.drums played by mr.Palmer from Emerson,lake and palmer band!!!
finally the title song "Five miles out".intriguing sytnh-pop hit.Maggie's sweet voice sings along with more agressive and angry Mike's singing (i always wondered why he is singing so rarely,he is a really good vocalist).title song is based on Taurus II guitar riff and features some amusing parts (Mike's growling voice - "lost in static 18...") but also very pathetic and memorable chorus.one of my favourite songs.
The album is one if his most extraordinary and interesting items from discography.Mike creates here really rich and colourfull paintings using a lot of instruments and of course his beloved electric guitar.an album which you can't leave behind!

The high point

propably mike's bet from eigties...the 25 minutes long "Taurus II" is amazing with it's heavy sound and sudden changes,"Family man" is still a rocking hit,"Orabidoo" hides an endless emtions and "Mount teide" and title track are still gems.
nothing more nothing less.a masterpiece!

Unique and impressive material!

Reading a lot of reviews about Tubular Bells being the highest score in Oldfield`s career, makes me a lot disagree. Perhaps after the also excellent and refined Tubular Bells 2, Oldfield`s material became rather modern stuff, shaped to suite todays sounds, which made his recent records a bit less adventorous than the previous ones.

FIVE MILES OUT, is my favourite album. The 25 minute Taurus II is of epic proportions. Played loud in a capable hi-fi system will leave you breathless, and leaving you think that you`ve just heard to the best pieces of music one might ever hear. Taurus II, is perhaps the reply to those who say that Mike`s efforts in improving his work over Tubular Bells has been in vain. The progressive and varying rock theme is simply stunning and unique.

Orabidoo, is also another unique material, making (together with Taurus II) FIVE MILES OUT a unique material even in Mike discography. Mount Teidi offers some refined timpani work, while pop sound is exploited in Family Man and in the title track.

This is an album which one must buy without hesitation! Simply outstanding!!