Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells Ii Flac

Tubular Bells II is Mike Oldfield's 1992 sequel to his iconic debut, reimagining its structure with modern production and digital instrumentation. If you are looking for high-quality audio information or technical details for a FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) version, here is the essential data: Album Overview: Tubular Bells II Artist: Mike Oldfield Release Date: August 31, 1992 Genre: Progressive Rock / New Age Total Runtime: Approximately 58 minutes and 39 seconds FLAC Technical Specifications A standard CD-quality FLAC rip typically features: Sampling Rate: 44.1 kHz Bit Depth: 16-bit (Standard) or 24-bit (High-Resolution)

Bitrate: Generally ranges between 700 kbps and 1000 kbps depending on the compression level Track List Sentinel (8:07) Dark Star (2:16) Clear Light (5:48) Blue Saloon (2:59) Sunjammer (2:32) Red Dawn (1:50) The Bell (6:59) Weightless (5:43) The Great Plain (4:47) Sunset Door (2:23) Tattoo (4:15) Altered State (5:12) Maya Gold (4:01) Moonshine (1:41) Acquisition Options

To ensure you have a legitimate lossless copy, you can find the album on high-fidelity platforms like Qobuz, which offers DRM-free downloads in multiple lossless formats including FLAC and ALAC .

For a full high-fidelity listen of the original 1992 LP version, you can watch this complete playthrough:

Report: Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells II (FLAC)

Introduction

Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells II" is a sequel to his iconic 1973 album "Tubular Bells". The original album was a groundbreaking work that showcased Oldfield's innovative use of tubular bells, a musical instrument consisting of a series of metal tubes of varying lengths that produce a distinct, bell-like sound. Released in 1999, "Tubular Bells II" revisits the concept of the original, with modern production techniques and new musical explorations.

Background

The original "Tubular Bells" album was a critical and commercial success, selling over 16 million copies worldwide. It was also notable for its use in the soundtrack of the 1973 film "The Exorcist". Oldfield's innovative use of the tubular bells created a unique sound that captivated audiences worldwide.

Tubular Bells II

The sequel, "Tubular Bells II", was released on November 31, 1999, by Universal Music. The album was produced by Mike Oldfield and engineered by Oldfield and his longtime collaborator, David Singleton. The album features a similar structure to the original, with 16 movements that explore different aspects of the tubular bells. Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells II FLAC

Music and Composition

The music on "Tubular Bells II" is a natural progression from the original, with Oldfield continuing to experiment with the tubular bells and other instruments. The album features a mix of electronic and acoustic elements, with intricate instrumental passages and subtle ambient textures. The composition is characterized by Oldfield's signature use of repetitive patterns, rhythmic interplay, and melodic motifs.

Technical Specifications

Format: FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)
Sampling Rate: 44.1 kHz
Bit Depth: 16-bit
Bitrate: 1,411 kbps
Duration: 59:46

Sound Quality and FLAC Encoding

The FLAC encoding of "Tubular Bells II" offers a high-quality, lossless representation of the album. The 16-bit, 44.1 kHz encoding provides a detailed and nuanced sound, with a clear and accurate representation of the tubular bells and other instruments. The bitrate of 1,411 kbps ensures a high level of fidelity, making this encoding suitable for audiophiles and music enthusiasts.

Conclusion

"Tubular Bells II" is a worthy sequel to Mike Oldfield's iconic original. The album offers a fresh and innovative exploration of the tubular bells, with intricate compositions and subtle ambient textures. The FLAC encoding provides a high-quality, lossless representation of the album, making it an excellent choice for music enthusiasts who value audio fidelity.

Recommendations

Playback System: A high-quality playback system with a good digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a pair of accurate speakers or headphones is recommended to fully appreciate the nuances of the album.
Volume Setting: Due to the dynamic range of the album, it's recommended to play it at a moderate volume to fully appreciate the subtle details and nuances.

Rating

Based on its musical and technical merits, I would rate "Tubular Bells II" (FLAC) as follows: Tubular Bells II is Mike Oldfield's 1992 sequel

Musical Merit: 8.5/10
Technical Merit: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.0/10

You're interested in the iconic soundtrack "Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield!

What is Tubular Bells?

"Tubular Bells" is a musical composition by Mike Oldfield, released in 1973. It's a groundbreaking instrumental piece that features a unique blend of progressive rock, classical, and folk music elements. The soundtrack was commissioned for the film "The Exorcist," and it has since become a classic of its own right.

About the soundtrack

The original "Tubular Bells" soundtrack consists of two parts:

Part 1: The first part of the composition features a solo performance by Mike Oldfield on a variety of instruments, including the tubular bells, guitar, bass, and others. The piece begins with a gentle introduction and gradually builds up to a more complex and dynamic section.
Part 2: The second part is more dramatic and features a full orchestra, adding to the overall intensity and complexity of the music.

The FLAC format

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is a popular audio format that allows for the storage and playback of high-quality audio files without any loss of data. A FLAC file is an encoded audio file that contains the original audio data, making it a great choice for audiophiles and music enthusiasts.

Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells II

In 1999, Mike Oldfield released a sequel to the original "Tubular Bells" soundtrack, titled "Tubular Bells II." This new composition was written for the 50th anniversary of the BBC Concert Orchestra and features a similar blend of classical and rock elements.

Guide to Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells II FLAC Format: FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) Sampling Rate:

If you're looking to download or purchase a FLAC file of "Tubular Bells II," here are some things to keep in mind:

Sound quality: A FLAC file of "Tubular Bells II" will offer high-quality audio with a high resolution (e.g., 24-bit/96 kHz or higher).
File size: FLAC files can be quite large, so be prepared for a file size of around 200-500 MB or more, depending on the quality and length of the file.
Compatibility: Make sure your audio player or device supports FLAC files. Many popular media players, such as VLC, Foobar2000, and Roon, support FLAC playback.
Authenticity: When downloading or purchasing a FLAC file, ensure that it's from a reputable source, such as a legitimate online music store or the official Mike Oldfield website.

Tips and recommendations

Listen to the original: If you haven't already, listen to the original "Tubular Bells" soundtrack to appreciate the evolution of Mike Oldfield's composition.
Explore Mike Oldfield's discography: Mike Oldfield has a vast and fascinating discography. Check out some of his other notable works, such as "Hergest Ridge," "The Orchestral Tubular Bells," and "Five Miles Out."
Appreciate the artistry: "Tubular Bells II" is a masterful composition that showcases Mike Oldfield's innovative approach to music. Take your time to appreciate the intricate details and nuances of the piece.

Enjoy your musical journey with Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells II" FLAC!

Lossless vs. Lossy: The Case for FLAC

Now, why the specific demand for Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells II FLAC? You can find this album on Spotify (320kbps Ogg Vorbis) or Apple Music (AAC 256kbps). These are lossy formats. They throw away musical data to save space. On a crowded subway with $20 earbuds, the difference is negligible. On a high-fidelity system—$500 headphones, a DAC, or a dedicated stereo rig—the loss is criminal.

Here is what you lose with MP3 or streaming, and regain with FLAC:

The Transients: Oldfield uses a lot of percussive attacks—guitar picks sliding on strings, the mallet hitting the piano frame. In lossy formats, these attacks blur into "pre-echo" artifacts. In FLAC, the attack is razor-sharp.
The Soundstage: Tubular Bells II is famously wide. Guitars pan from left to right. Bells ring in the far rear channel (in 5.1 mixes, but even in stereo). FLAC preserves the phase coherence. You hear the space around the instruments, not just the instruments.
The Bass: The low-end on tracks like "Sentinel" descends into sub-bass frequencies that MP3 encoding actively strips away. FLAC retains the full frequency response down to 20Hz, allowing you to feel the floor shake.

The Performance: Familiar Ghosts, New Shadows

If the original Tubular Bells was a prodigy’s fever dream sketched on a reel-to-reel, Part Two is the master craftsman returning to the cathedral. Oldfield doesn’t just repeat the "Grand Piano" theme. He deconstructs it.

Side One (The Re-introduction): It opens with that instantly recognizable semi-tone glissando, but where the original built slowly from wind chimes and a lone piano, II launches with a thunderous, almost industrial percussion. Oldfield’s guitar work is sharper, more rock-oriented. The "Caveman" section now feels like a tribal ritual rather than a drunken shanty. In FLAC, you hear the weight of the bass drum and the breath before each acoustic guitar strum.
Side Two (The Showstopper): The second half is where Oldfield flexes his matured compositional muscle. The “Tibetan” section is genuinely haunting, and the transition into the “Sunset” theme is gorgeous. But the highlight remains the reimagined “Sailor’s Hornpipe.” It’s chaotic, joyful, and in lossless audio, every overdubbed mandolin and penny whistle occupies its own distinct space in the stereo field.

Warning: Do not expect the raw, edgy danger of the 1973 original. Tubular Bells II is polished, clean, and produced to 1992’s "loud" standards. But that polish reveals layers the original buried in tape hiss.

References (Selected)

Oldfield, M. (1992). Tubular Bells II [CD liner notes]. Virgin Records.
Pohlmann, K. C. (2015). Principles of Digital Audio (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. (See Ch. 12: Lossless Compression)
Reiss, J. D., & McPherson, A. (2015). Audio Effects: Theory, Implementation and Application. CRC Press. (Ch. 9: Perceptual Coding Artifacts)
Stereophile. (1993, March). “Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells II: Engineering the Sequel.” Stereophile, 16(3), 89–94.

Appendix A: Command-line instruction to verify FLAC integrity for Tubular Bells II tracks:

flac -t 02\ Tubular\ Bells\ II\ -\ Part\ One.flac

Expected output: flac 1.4.2, ... ok (no errors)

Appendix B: Spectral difference map (CD vs. FLAC vs. MP3) available upon request.

1. The Attack of the Guitars

Oldfield uses a signature "speed guitar" technique (layered, rapid-picked arpeggios). In MP3 format, the temporal resolution blurs. The sharp, percussive attack of the nylon-string guitars in "The Sentinel" turns into a mushy wash. In FLAC, you hear the string resonating against the fret, the pick strike, and the immediate decay into the silence.