Several reviews I read of Terry Oldfield’s Best Of album stated that it was a great way to get acquainted with Oldfield’s music, and what a terrific introduction it is! I’d heard Terry’s name for a long time, and have a vinyl version of his kid brother’s “Tubular Bells” (which Terry played on!), but was not familiar with his music specifically. As I listened to the album, several pieces were familiar to me - undoubtedly from Oldfield’s extensive work in film and television soundtracks, including National Geographic Specials. Oldfield is a world traveler and a “seeker”, and a multitude of musical and cultural influences are apparent. Oldfield plays a wide variety of flutes to reflect the moods and visions of his music to great effect. The fifteen selections were chosen by Oldfield himself and include tracks from eleven of his previous albums as well as a remix of “Spirit of India” and two previously unreleased bonus tracks. Pieces range in style and mood from the rhythmic and bouncy “The Listening Heaven” and “Transcending Time and Space” to the ethereal “Pure Flute” and “Olympus”. Several pieces (“Hear My Plea”, “Mya Vin Rys”, etc.) utilize breathy vocals that predate Enya and her many imitators, indicating the strong influence Oldfield has had on many other artists. Themes of nature and spirituality run through all of the selections, and are some of the driving forces behind Oldfield’s compositions. Soothing and relaxing in many ways, this album has a big sound in several places, using lots of drums and rhythm. I really enjoy the variety of the selections, and, as any good compilation should, the CD has sparked my interest in pursuing Oldfield’s many albums. This is a great overview of a brilliant musician’s career, and should generate interest from a new audience in what is coming next. Highly recommended!