Easy / Celebration

Digitally remastered two-fer containing a pair of albums from the British Folk/Pop singer/songwriter (and sister of Mike): Easy (1979) and Celebration (1980). Folk-tinged Easy Listening Pop, drenched in sunshine and woozy with white wine, Oldfield's material also offers a darker side, and never seems far from pain. Her wandering tales of love and lust are orchestrated with incredible late '70s clarity, and both albums are very much prime examples of this time and place, as evidenced by the occasional ventures towards Disco, epic, overblown ballads and even Reggae. Oldfield's voice remains strong and light throughout, and the obvious attention to detail in both the song-writing and the records' production shines through. Cherry Red.