TERRY OLDFIELD
Spirit Of The Rainforest
(c) (p) 1990 New World Cassettes
1997 New Earth Records
2tks/56mins

We begin our journey through tropical forest. We walk on a narrow path. The crowns of majestic trees are over our heads and the ancient forest is around us. We observe a tumult of most amazing colors. The trees are rustling with a rich green leaves. Mysterious forest sounds are reaching us. And, somewhere far away, we hear a soft singing - this is a singing of an Indian flute. And we go to that place, where this calm and peaceful music plays...

This is how I'd like to tell you about the album "Spirit Of The Rainforest" by Terry Oldfield, because this is a music of beauty and harmony. Moreover, it contains a deep perception of the surrounding world as it really is. Meditative flute of Terry Oldfield carries a voice of pure and naked pristine world to the listener. Multiple nature sounds, used by the musician not only create an original background, immersing us into the very heart of tropical forest, but introduce a wilderness of living nature in the sounding of the album. Noise of the wind, rustling of the trees, calling voices of wonderful birds - all this is a natural music of the Nature itself. And Terry Oldfield gives her opportunity to express herself, only slightly mastering this music, which comes as it seems from the very depths of Mother-Earth, by fine intelligent artistic touches and uniting all this into a whole.

The album consists of two approximately equal parts. In the first one, "Between Two Words", we are tuning to the rainforest and entering its secret halls. In the second one, named "The Listening Heaven", we are in the very heart of the forest, and its Spirit is talking to us. The hidden power and energy of the Spirit is displayed in the music. I'd like to mention one more characteristic feature of the music: Terry Oldfield has very successfully used Indian melodies, which are an organic part of his music.

And now I'd like to tell you a very important thing. Maybe someone, who is reading these lines, having looked at the data of release of this album, would say: "Ha! Is it really a new album?!" Yes, it is really so. "Spirit Of The Rainforest" was recorded almost ten years ago. Still this music sounds very freshly. The matter is, that Terry Oldfield has anticipated the time. In the last years a lot of music appeared, where melodies and living instruments of South-American Indians is used, and where various sounds of tropical forest serve as a background. For example, a famous American company Earthone Records has released many albums with the music of this kind. And this is not the last example. Still, Terry Oldfield made it in 1990! He is the Pioneer, who was followed by the other musicians. And as I consider, in many respect thanks to Terry Oldfield this music is very popular now. Listen to "Spirit Of The Rainforest" and convince yourself that this is really so!

Serge Kozlovsky