Robert Reed - Sanctuary II

(2CD/DVD 2016, 174:49, Tigermoth Productions TMRCD0616)

The tracks:
CD 1:
  1- Sanctuary 2 Part 1(19:16)
  2- Sanctuary 2 Part 2(20:03)
Bonus Disc:
  1- Salzburg(2:48)
  2- Pen Y Fan(2:14)
  3- Les Penning Section (Single Edit)(1:28)
  4- Marimba (Single Edit)(3:45)
  5- Side Two Opening (Alternative Version)(5:36)
  6- Side Two End (Alternative Version)(4:43)
  7- Marimba (Chimpan A Remix)(5:04)
  8- Sanctuary 2 Part 1 (Tom Newman Mix)(19:22)
  9- Sanctuary 2 Part 2 (Tom Newman Mix)(21:01)
DVD
  1- Sanctuary 2 Parts 1 & 2
            (Surround Mix & 24/96 Stereo Mix)
  2- Promo videos

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Robert Reed is the keyboard player in Magenta, a multi instrumentalist and a paid up member of the Mike Oldfield appreciation society. Sanctuary II follows on from Sanctuary I which I reviewed last year.

This album finds itself taking musical markers from Ommadawn and Incantations and creating a piece of music full of nostalgia, but also tries to update itself to a modern sound and in most cases succeeds. This time the instrumentation has changed slightly with the inclusion of some female backing vocalists inventing their own language (think the end of Ommadawn side 1) and a full drum kit with Simon Phillips on board who just so happened to play on a couple of Oldfield albums.

Casting the Oldfield similarities away for the moment, there are some nice tunes on display here and the vocals do add to the sound although I think they are overdone in places. Les Penning is back to play some nice recorder and the overall feel is that it is a nice instrumental album that for the most part flows along smoothly although there are a couple of segments that could have been better edited.

Fans of the original first four albums by Mike Oldfield will enjoy this release but will be pleased to know that maybe, the man himself has been inspired to produce some new music of his own and we can look forward to Return To Ommadawn in the new year.

Next to the main disc, on which you can find Sanctuary II part one and two, an extra CD and bonus DVD can be enjoyed as well. The second disc includes alternative versions, special mixes and single edits. The DVD has a surround and stereo mix of Sanctuary II and promo videos to enjoy! Check out the track lists for more details of the extra discs!

**** Dave Smith

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