It is one of the most iconic albums of all time, which helped launch a fledgling record label on the road to mega-success, with its’ opening segment becoming the equally iconic main theme of a classic horror film from the year of its’ release, 1973
Mike Oldfield’s TUBULAR BELLS defied convention on its’ original release, a two-part experimental instrumental piece that subverted contemporary musical structural thinking, but after it was used in part in William Friedkin’s original film of THE EXORCIST it became a much-sought after possession of music fans across the globe.
Now, half a century on, film and music fans are getting a chance to experience the album in its’ entirety as the backdrop to a brand new dance performance and musical presentation which was filmed at the Royal Festival Hall in front of a packed audience.
The album takes centre stage in the performance and there is no doubt that the millions of fans who have listened to it umpteen times in the five decades will cheer as much as the audience did in this as live presentation.
The concert opens with THE GEM, then into SUMMIT DAY, followed by a new rendition of Oldfield’s classic 1984 hit MOONLIGHT SHADOW which dominated the UK charts back in the day.
However, it is when the first bars of TUBULAR BELLS echo around the Hall that the real cheers begin, segueing into a fusion of acrobatics and dance that is astonishing to behold from a hugely talented group of dancers and movement experts as the two-part epic evolves in a solid new reworking by Oldfield and his tightly coordinated instrumentalists.
At times, this concert comes across like a mix of Cirque Du Soleil crossed with classic Pink Floyd and the wonder of the album does emerge and evolve here in a refreshing reworking. The end of the second part of the album will be very familiar to UK children’s TV fans of a certain generation as the BLUE PETER Main Theme, which Oldfield allowed to be used.
New listeners of the album will be intrigued and might even seek it out, along with other entries in Oldfield’s discography.
A treat of live performance.
The Tubular Bells 50th Anniversary Tour will be in UK Cinemas for one night only on 22nd September.
