An album inspired by
Terry Oldfield's permanent move from England to Australia -- imagine a new age version of
Rod Stewart's
Atlantic Crossing --
Turning Point is one of
Oldfield's most personal albums. Unusually for
Oldfield, the album opens with "Guardian Angel," an honest-to-goodness pop song that sounds rather like
Nick Drake as backed by
Victorialand-era
Cocteau Twins. The latter comparison fits for much of the rest of the album, as well, as
Oldfield's production style here features a newfound fondness for both heavy reverb and subtle electronic drums, as well as the languid tempos and atmospheric keyboards associated with those '80s dream pop pioneers. Other points of comparison include some of
Roger Eno's more pop-oriented work, late-'80s
Bill Nelson,
Enya and -- for the first time --
Terry's kid brother
Mike Oldfield. Fans of any of those artists should find
Turning Point an appealing point of entry to
Oldfield's oeuvre, but be warned: this is not at all typical of most of his work.