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Return to Ommadawn
by
Return to Ommadawn Image
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

  • Summary: The 26th full-length release for the British folk-rock artist is the sequel to his 1975 album, Ommadawn.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. AllMusic
    Feb 6, 2017
    80
    Oldfield's Ommadawn is an enchanted place and this lush revisitation both honors his initial creation and neatly extends its boundaries.
  2. Q Magazine
    Jan 23, 2017
    60
    Sounds like a natural follow-up to the original Ommadawn. [Mar 2017, p.112]
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  3. musicOMH.com
    Jan 23, 2017
    60
    As its title implies, Return To Ommadawn is nothing new of course, but it is a happy reunion that will please Oldfield’s fans greatly. It may not necessarily introduce him to a new audience, but it leads those in the know to a familiar place they know well.
  4. Uncut
    Jan 23, 2017
    60
    It's less dynamic, but the prog-folk flavours remain intact, with penny whistles and acoustic guitars central to its two sentimental, sometimes meandering halves. [Feb 2017, p.33]
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  5. Mojo
    Jan 23, 2017
    60
    The faithful can still but with confidence--these are polished performances--but others may weary of a long journey round past glories. [Feb 2017, p.96]
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  6. Record Collector
    Feb 2, 2017
    60
    42 minutes of rewarding new music for those who still believe.
  7. Classic Rock Magazine
    Feb 22, 2017
    40
    As it is, there’s a certain Wagnerian tweeness about the record, its changes predictable, it’s progressions too easily resolved, his tunings over-familiar. The whole thing feels like drinking several pints of spring water.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Enklave
    Feb 22, 2017
    10
    After a long wait for a new piece of music from Mike, this is really it. Just listen this journey uninterrupted and feel this compositionAfter a long wait for a new piece of music from Mike, this is really it. Just listen this journey uninterrupted and feel this composition feeding your brain with all the emotions. Oldfield is back!… Expand
  2. miguelbaptista
    May 17, 2019
    10
    A great instrumental and acoustic Mike Oldfield album, with beautiful melodies all throughout.
    He still manages to entice our musical    A great instrumental and acoustic Mike Oldfield album, with beautiful melodies all throughout.
    He still manages to entice our musical imagination after so many years, and so many works.
    At first I was expecting more of the original Ommadawn's "dark" almost claustrophobic mood, but it works as an response to that, with a feeling of space, light, release and redemption.
    It grew on me with every listen, and made it into one of the soundtracks of my life albums, that accompanied me through a hard solitude time.
    A particular quality that surprised me was, contrary to his latest perfectly polished works, it contains many warts and raw sounds, specially on the acoustic guitars, but always in a musical and of course expressive way. Something that with time, only serves to render it unique, and that is more and more lost in todays computerized productions.
    It was a great homage to his son. Thank you again Mr.Oldfield, Godbless.    … Expand
  4. vadhaghl
    Oct 26, 2019
    9
    Return to Ommadawn is a worthy successor to the classic album. While I miss some of the Oldfield-typical guitar and more vocal parts, with itsReturn to Ommadawn is a worthy successor to the classic album. While I miss some of the Oldfield-typical guitar and more vocal parts, with its long-drawn instrumental parts it is the kind of album I no longer was expecting from Mike. So a well-deserved 9 it is!… Expand