There seems to be several dead wax listings missing on this oneMatrix/Runout (Etchings Side A): VDT 101 A10 Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side B): VDT 101 B10Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side C): VDT 101 C11Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side D): VDT 101 D1With a Harp like design stamped on all 4 sides

Mike's fourth album, and a double album, this takes Mike's ideas from his first three and expands them into a swirling extended work. Considered by some to be overly repetitive the music does improve with repeated listening and really represent the last of his albums where I think he is given complete creative freedom (he became increasingly pressured to produce a more "commercial" and digestible hits in many of his later albums). The quality of the recording is okay but exhibit some groove distortion towards the end of some sides.

My copy of this has the following deadwax info (needs added to the list?):Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side A): VDT 101 A3Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side B): VDT 101 B4Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side C): VDT 101 C10Matrix/Runout (Etchings Side D): VDT 101 D2

On initial copies of this version a small section from Incantations Part 4 (Track CD1-4) was missing. At the time I recall being told that Universal had put it down to an edit that had deteriorated but my understanding is that the disc was remastered with the missing part restored. At the time of writing the download version available through Amazon is taken from the first (faulty) batch of discs.

The 'corrected' CD1 has the code 52781117 in the matrix (variant 2 in the release entry).

Do You maybe know matrix codes of the "better" and "worse" pressings?

So is the 16:57 of Part 4 (Track CD1-4) as entered in track list the correct or "edited" version?

So is the 16:57 of Part 4 (Track CD1-4) as entered in track list the correct or "edited" version?

Further to this, on subsequent pressings the length of the missing section was minimised but the glitch is still audible.

This, to me, is the greatest album by Mike Oldfield. Its long, and on this album in particular Mike gives each theme time to grow and evolve in ways that he didn't let happen on previous albums. Sometimes on those albums new themes seem to bump up uncomfortably to the previous one. Incantations is a more relaxed and inspirational affair. A paean to great strong leaders, be they female, the goddess Diana, or male, The peacemaker Hiawatha. The beautiful repetetive music, sometimes reminds one of Steve Reich, but it never goes into the esoteric stratosphere, it is firmly based on melody. (special recognition must be given to Pierre Moerlin for his excellent percussion work.) This is a fantastic album. give Incantations a listen and you'll be hooked for quite a while.

I'm with you here, Tom. I find this album over-repetitive and in the case of sides A and B, frankly, quite dull. Sides C and D are a significant improvement, but give me his later output any time!

Terry I know everyone is entitled to their own opinions & what one person likes another person may not & so on but I have to disagree with you... this is far from his greatest album... I don't even consider this one of his better albums to be honest... that's not to say that I think the album is bad I certainly don't but I think it's inferior in many ways to a lot of his other albums... for instance I thought the album that came out after this one "Platinum" was a better album...