Mike Oldfield - Taurus II (cover)

Many thanks to the stars of the show:

Lo the Stan, the unique and a stunning introduction with this exquisite interpretation of the Deep Deep Sound . The soulful eyes, the unnerving eyes. A naturally compelling presence. Naturally we are stans.

Giulia Cacciavillani, accomplished flautist and music teacher delights with cheery relief on her handcrafted flute and in elegant style.

Steve Harker who has tirelessly been working on a significant and exciting Mike Oldfield project of his own, an accurate recreation of the complete Incantations album and it sounds fantastic. The kind of modern but faithful rendition only a lifelong fan could produce. An authentic mood and enough subtle deviations to be fresh and intriguing. One to watch!

Early hints of Mike Oldfield's Taurus themes could be heard emerging from Tubular Bells performances during the "In Concert" tour of 1980 in support of Platinum including the Knebworth Festival show.

When QE2 was released in 1981 the suffixed title "Taurus I" intrigued the album cover student with speculation of unexplored musical landscapes. This would be confirmed on the road with elements of the next instalment emerging during the European Adventure Tour of that year.

Mike's 1982 album, Five Miles Out saw a return to the formula established on Platinum; balancing a side long piece with a selection of potentially more radio friendly arrangements.

Taurus II introduced an interesting chapter in Mike's evolving approach to his symphonic pieces and production in general. Gaining new experiences collaborating with David Hentschel and others on QE2, Mike is this time free to stubbornly do what he had always done despite the evolving musical landscape. Layering acoustic, electric and electronic instruments; generally embracing new technologies such as the Fairlight and the Linn drum machine and generally disregarding the expected rules of their use.

Beyond the pressures of composing enough new material in time to meet a relentless schedule of releases and tours there must have been some satisfaction for Mike in the work of session players on QE2; at this time welcoming contributions from his live band with some fascinating results.

On the 2nd of April 1982 Mike appeared on Tyne Tees children's music show Razzmatazz, in support of the new album. Interviewed by Alistair Pirrie, Mike discussed the hellish flight to Spain which inspired the title track. Finishing with a short rendition of Taurus II; Mike provided 14 year old Paul Inder, son of Lemmy Kilmister with an opportunity to demonstrate some lead guitar playing.

Two days later the Mike Oldfield Group would perform Taurus II live during the first show of the Five Miles Out world tour, marking their US debut in New York.

The band comprised of almost the same compact supergroup structure consummately proven on the European Adventure Tour of '81 with the addition of session guitarist, Tim Renwick; Virginia Clee filling in for Rick Fenn during the US and Oceanic dates and also Roskilde Festival.

It was a loud and energetic band. It had to be. Mike could bring it down quiet temporarily here and there but Pierre Moerlen, returning to the fold had his own ideas and the limitless steam to express them. Morris Pert similarly punctuated proceedings with his Pictish inspirations and of course also in no uncertain measure.

_You couldn't suppress a band built on that backline, it was electrifying. It sizzled like high voltage powerlines in the mist when it was still. Mike at his technical peak as a live performer, bleached hair emerging from the darkness under bright lights and the screaming red Solid Guitar making its screaming presence felt.

This was not the dapper Oldfield softshoe that began shuffling onto stages only 3 years earlier. This was the slightly distorted surf rock guitarist barnstormer._

Projected animations by Ian Eames inspired by the sometimes puzzling work of M.C.Escher remained a feature of Mike's shows, providing some light relief which the polite but introverted bandleader might not. One overall favourable local review described these as "clever but superfluous".

In the audience on the 18th of May by enthusiastic request and seated only a few rows back was a very young and impressionable glorfindel-box.