description Amarok Overview
Amarok is a 1990 album by British musician Mike Oldfield, structured as a single, continuous 60-minute composition. The album is notable for its abrupt shifts in tempo, genre, and instrumentation, blending African percussion, flamenco guitar, and electronic soundscapes. It was created as a defiant statement against his record label, embedding a Morse code message that spells out an insult directed at Virgin Records founder Richard Branson. It appeals to dedicated listeners of experimental and highly conceptual progressive rock.
insights Ranking position
Amarok ranks #68 of 155 in the Progressive Rock Album ranking, behind Marbles, ahead of 90125.
help Amarok FAQ
Is Mike Oldfield's Amarok broken up into multiple tracks?
No, the 1990 album is structured as a single, continuous 60-minute composition. The track simply titled "Amarok" takes up the entire album, taking the listener on an unpredictable musical journey.
What genres and instruments are explored on Amarok?
The record is highly notable for its abrupt shifts in tempo and genre, seamlessly blending African percussion with flamenco guitar and electronic soundscapes. Oldfield uses an incredibly diverse array of instruments, including a toothbrush and a Hoover vacuum cleaner, to create its unique sound.
Was Amarok intended as a sequel to Mike Oldfield's Ommadawn?
While often considered a spiritual successor to his 1975 album Ommadawn, Amarok was actually created as a defiant statement against his record label, Virgin Records. Oldfield specifically designed the unpredictable music to be completely impossible to extract as commercial singles.
Does Amarok feature vocals or lyrics?
The album is overwhelmingly instrumental, but it does feature sudden comedic vocal outbursts, grunts, and spoken word snippets. There are also bits of Morse code woven throughout the complex arrangement to frustrate record executives.
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