Light & Shade
Encyclopedia
Light + Shade is a two-disc
album by English musician Mike Oldfield
. It is the first album to be released by Oldfield following his signing with Mercury Records
. The album was released on 26 September 2005 (See 2005 in music
). Some of the music on these CDs was originally released (with alternate mixes) on the soundtracks to his virtual reality games
, Tres Lunas
and Maestro
.
video game.
On his official website Oldfield reported that besides the standard version of the album, a 5.1 surround
mix
of the album has been produced as well. However as of 2010 it has not been released. In addition, four tracks from Light + Shade were made available in the U-MYX
format for fans to mix
themselves.
Oldfield's attraction to vocal modification surfaced again, this time in the form of Vocaloid
, a virtual vocal software package, the voice of "Miriam" was used. The virtual voice "Miriam" is based upon the voice of Miriam Stockley
, whom Oldfield had previously worked with. One of the Vocaloid tracks, "Surfing
" was meant to be the albums first single, according to the Spanish
website zm.nu. "Tears of an Angel" also featured Miriam singing alongside the Cantor
software.
The tracks "First Steps" and "Ringscape" were arranged by Robyn Smith. Christopher von Deylen
makes a guest appearance on "Nightshade". Oldfield repaid the favor by playing guitar on "Morgentau", a track from the Tag und Nacht
album for Deylen's band Schiller
.
"Quicksilver" is another name for the metal Mercury
, which is also the name of the record label which he is currently with. On Oldfield's next album, Music of the Spheres
, he repeats this trick, with a track title "Musica Universalis" which when translated is Universal Music.
The track "Blackbird" is named after one of Oldfield's motorbikes, a Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird.
.
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
album by English musician Mike Oldfield
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
. It is the first album to be released by Oldfield following his signing with Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
. The album was released on 26 September 2005 (See 2005 in music
2005 in music
-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
). Some of the music on these CDs was originally released (with alternate mixes) on the soundtracks to his virtual reality games
MusicVR
MusicVR is a virtual reality project created and developed by the musician Mike Oldfield. To date it has produced two standalone simulation games and inspired content for some of Oldfield's albums...
, Tres Lunas
Tres Lunas (video game)
Tres Lunas is a MusicVR video game published in 2002 by British musician Mike Oldfield.- History :Oldfield had been working on the idea of melding virtual reality and music throughout the 1990s. Oldfield worked with 3D graphics programmer Colin Dooley and graphic artist Nick Catcheside...
and Maestro
Maestro (video game)
Maestro is a MusicVR video game by British musician Mike Oldfield. It is the second publicly released MusicVR game after 2002's Tres Lunas.- History :Oldfield had been working on the idea of melding virtual reality and music throughout the 1990s...
.
Background
The album offers two genres of music for two different moods, Oldfield created this division by creating two CDs of music. The first nine tracks are dubbed "Light" and feature brighter and quiet pieces; the second half of the album is the "Shade" portion and brings in a much darker feel. Many of the tracks on the album are remixed and/or extended versions of the music from the Tres LunasTres Lunas (video game)
Tres Lunas is a MusicVR video game published in 2002 by British musician Mike Oldfield.- History :Oldfield had been working on the idea of melding virtual reality and music throughout the 1990s. Oldfield worked with 3D graphics programmer Colin Dooley and graphic artist Nick Catcheside...
video game.
On his official website Oldfield reported that besides the standard version of the album, a 5.1 surround
Surround sound
Surround sound encompasses a range of techniques such as for enriching the sound reproduction quality of an audio source with audio channels reproduced via additional, discrete speakers. Surround sound is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot where the audio effects work best, and...
mix
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
of the album has been produced as well. However as of 2010 it has not been released. In addition, four tracks from Light + Shade were made available in the U-MYX
U-MYX
U-MYX is a music format launched in 2004 which allows a user to arrange and create their own mix of songs by known music artists. The U-MYX Software is available on CDs and as digital downloads from U-MYX's own digital store. Digital U-MYX Sales are UK Chart eligible and count towards the...
format for fans to mix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
themselves.
Oldfield's attraction to vocal modification surfaced again, this time in the form of Vocaloid
Vocaloid
is a singing synthesizer application, with its signal processing part developed through a joint research project between the Pompeu Fabra University in Spain and Japan's Yamaha Corporation, who backed the development financially—and later developed the software into the commercial product...
, a virtual vocal software package, the voice of "Miriam" was used. The virtual voice "Miriam" is based upon the voice of Miriam Stockley
Miriam Stockley
Miriam Stockley is a British singer. She was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and her work is influenced by the African music in her home country. Her unique vocalese style gained international acclaim when Karl Jenkins' launched the "Adiemus" project with "Songs of Sanctuary", featuring...
, whom Oldfield had previously worked with. One of the Vocaloid tracks, "Surfing
Surfing (song)
"Surfing" is a Spanish promo single by Mike Oldfield from his album Light & Shade released in 2005 .Oldfield's attraction to vocal modification surfaced again, this time in the form of Vocaloid, a virtual vocal software package. One of the Vocaloid tracks, "Surfing" was meant to be the albums...
" was meant to be the albums first single, according to the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
website zm.nu. "Tears of an Angel" also featured Miriam singing alongside the Cantor
Cantor (music software)
Cantor was a Vocal singing synthesizer software released 4 months after the original release of Vocaloid by the company VirSyn, and was based on the same idea of synethesizing the human voice. VirSyn released both English and German versions of this software...
software.
The tracks "First Steps" and "Ringscape" were arranged by Robyn Smith. Christopher von Deylen
Christopher von Deylen
Christopher von Deylen is an electronica music producer, formerly one-half of a duo, and now the main member of the band Schiller...
makes a guest appearance on "Nightshade". Oldfield repaid the favor by playing guitar on "Morgentau", a track from the Tag und Nacht
Tag und Nacht
Tag und Nacht is the 4th studio album from German electronic musician, composer and producer Christopher von Deylen under his Schiller alias. It features collaborations with well known international artists Moya Brennan, Mike Oldfield and Kim Sanders.-Track listing:...
album for Deylen's band Schiller
Schiller (band)
Schiller is the main project of Christopher von Deylen , a German musician, composer and producer. He won the ECHO award in 2002 for the Best Dance Single of the Year.. Schiller has sold over 7 million albums worldwide.Christopher Von Deylen does not provide vocals for any of his compositions...
.
"Quicksilver" is another name for the metal Mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
, which is also the name of the record label which he is currently with. On Oldfield's next album, Music of the Spheres
Music of the Spheres (Mike Oldfield album)
Music of the Spheres is an album by English musician Mike Oldfield, released in the United Kingdom on 17 March 2008. New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra is the featured vocalist on "On My Heart", and the album also features Chinese pianist Lang Lang on six tracks.The album, Oldfield's second album...
, he repeats this trick, with a track title "Musica Universalis" which when translated is Universal Music.
The track "Blackbird" is named after one of Oldfield's motorbikes, a Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird.
Light
- "Angelique" – 4:40
- "Blackbird" – 4:39
- "The Gate" – 4:14
- "First Steps" – 10:02
- "Closer" – 2:51
- "Our Father" – 6:50
- "Rocky" – 3:19
- "Sunset" – 4:47
- "Près de Toi" (Bonus track)
Shade
- "Quicksilver" – 5:55
- "Resolution" – 4:33
- "Slipstream" – 5:15
- "SurfingSurfing (song)"Surfing" is a Spanish promo single by Mike Oldfield from his album Light & Shade released in 2005 .Oldfield's attraction to vocal modification surfaced again, this time in the form of Vocaloid, a virtual vocal software package. One of the Vocaloid tracks, "Surfing" was meant to be the albums...
" – 5:36 - "Tears of an Angel" – 5:38
- "Romance" – 4:00
- "Ringscape" – 4:22
- "Nightshade" – 5:11
- "Lakme (Fruity Loops)" (Bonus track)
- "Cook's Tune" (Bonus track)
U-MYX CD-ROM tracks
- "Quicksilver" (U-MYX version)
- "Our Father" (U-MYX version)
- "Slipstream" (U-MYX version)
- "Angelique" (U-MYX version)
Guitars
- Fender StratFender StratocasterThe Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
(pink) 1963 - Paul Reed SmithPRS GuitarsPRS Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland. PRS Guitars was founded by guitarist and luthier Paul Reed Smith in 1985. The company is one of the leading manufacturers of high-end electric guitars.-Materials:...
Signature 1990 - Ramirez Classical 1974
- Fender Precision BassFender Precision BassThe Fender Precision Bass is an electric bass.Designed by Leo Fender as a prototype in 1950 and brought to market in 1951, the Precision was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use. A revolutionary instrument for the time, the Precision Bass has made an immeasurable impact on...
1964
Computers
- Mac G5Power Mac G5The Power Mac G5 is Apple's marketing name for models of the Power Macintosh that contains the IBM PowerPC G5 CPU. The professional-grade computer was the most powerful in Apple's lineup when it was introduced, widely hailed as the first 64-bit PC, and was touted by Apple as the fastest personal...
(Logic 7Logic ProLogic Pro is a hybrid 32 / 64 bit digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software application for the Mac OS X platform. Originally created by German software developer Emagic, Logic Pro became an Apple product when Apple bought Emagic in 2002...
) - PC (Windows XPWindows XPWindows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
Pro with FL StudioFL StudioFL Studio is a digital audio workstation developed by the Belgian company Image-Line. FL Studio features a graphical user interface based on a pattern-based music sequencer...
)
Software plugins
- Glaresoft: iDrum
- Linplug: Albino 2
- Native InstrumentsNative InstrumentsNative Instruments is a technology company that develops software and hardware for music production and DJing. The company has originally been identified mostly with software instruments, but has also expanded to various other music equipment segments in recent years.Current products of Native...
: AbsynthAbsynthAbsynth is a commercial, proprietary software synthesizer originally written by Brian Clevenger, and developed by Native Instruments GmbH. It combines a range of traditional synthesis techniques and modern to create complex sounds and timbres...
3 / Altered States / FM7 / Morphology / ReaktorReaktorReaktor is a graphical modular software music studio of proprietary license developed by Native Instruments. It lets musicians and sound specialists design and build their own instruments, samplers, effects and sound design tools. It is supplied with many ready-to-use instruments and effects, from...
/ Sounds of Polynesia / Wired - reFX: VanguardVanguard (synthesizer)Vanguard is a VSTi and AU software synthesizer by reFX. It is a virtual analog synthesizer with 3 oscillators, 32 waveforms, up to 10-times unison, a filter with a number of frequency responses, delay and reverb effects and stereo pattern controlled noise gate and arpeggiator, making it very...
- SpectrasonicsSpectrasonicsSpectrasonics is a music software company based in California, United States. Founded in 1994, the company originally produced sample libraries and then became one of the first companies to create software instruments in 2002 Their flagship product is Omnisphere, an extensive software synthesizer...
: Atmosphere / Stylus RMX - SteinbergSteinbergSteinberg GmbH is a German musical software and equipment company based in Hamburg. It mainly produces music recording, arranging and editing software as used in digital audio workstations and VSTi software synthesizers.- History :...
: Groove Agent / Hypersonic / Kantos / Slayer / XPhrase - Virtual Vocalist Software: VocaloidVocaloidis a singing synthesizer application, with its signal processing part developed through a joint research project between the Pompeu Fabra University in Spain and Japan's Yamaha Corporation, who backed the development financially—and later developed the software into the commercial product...
/ CantorCantor (music software)Cantor was a Vocal singing synthesizer software released 4 months after the original release of Vocaloid by the company VirSyn, and was based on the same idea of synethesizing the human voice. VirSyn released both English and German versions of this software...
Use in other media
Pieces from Light and Shade have been used in media, such as the use of "Resolution" and "Slipstream" in the BBC's technology series ClickClick (TV series)
Click is a weekly BBC television programme covering news and recent developments in the world of consumer technology, presented by Spencer Kelly....
.
External links
- Mike Oldfield Discography - Light + Shade at Tubular.net
- Logo rendered by Hans Claesson