Discovery is one of Mike Oldfield's stronger 80's releases because, unlike most of his albums, the vocal tracks here are outstanding. Straying away from the oft-borderline corny 80's pop that he often ventured into at the time, Mike here instead focuses on more abstract vocal pieces, with a big influence this time from Indian music. Maggie Reiley performs vocals here on several tracks, and she is great as usual. In something of a contrast, the male vocal pieces here are excellent as well. In fact, I would go so far as to say that there are no bad songs on this album. The best ones are To France (great Reiley vocal), Poison Arrows (the most and best Indian-influenced tune), and Tricks of The Light (good vocal piece, and one of Mike's best melodies to boot.) The lone instrumental is the 12-minute closer, The Lake. It is a nice piece, though not, in my opinion, one of his stronger instrumental numbers. This is perhaps the only Mike Oldfield album where the vocal pieces are stronger than the instrumental ones. One must buy this album for that fact alone.

Discovery is one of my favorite albums, an Oldfield masterpiece. This album has some of my favorite Oldfield songs, and an excellent instrumental piece "The Lake" (12 minutes long).
This album was the album that got me interested in Mike Oldfields music, and he is my favorite composer now. "To France", "Tricks of the Light", "Crystal Gazing" and "Poison Arrows" are my favorites. Maggie Reilly has one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard. Weather or not you are an Oldfield fan I suggest that you buy this album.

This was almost 20 years ago when I picked up Mike Oldfield's Discovery by accident in the shop. I was intrigued by his music. The depth, the complexity of his music was something I've never experienced before. Each of the songs are great. My favorite is definitely "poision arrow". "The Lake" also is my favorite, although I have never listen to a single song lasts this long. But it just flows so well. Because of Discovery, I am since hooked to MIke's music. This is definitely his best album, in my opinion.

I haven't heard all of Mike Oldfield's music, but this is the bitterest one I've heard -- it's great! Seems like most of the songs are about relationship turmoil, betrayal, anger, deception, and plain spite. Not much like "Songs of a Distant Earth"! The songs that Maggie sings on, even if the lyrics are unhappy, are beautiful songs. The mix of bitter lyrics with her clear-clear liquid voice evokes a wonder sense of beauty in the midst of trauma. The song "Saved by a Bell", for example, alternates between an awed and loving appreciation of the cosmos, and near-screaming about how this person should "suffer in hell". Mike is often classified as New Age, but "Discovery" has far too much screaming and squealing guitars for that. After all those bittersweet songs comes the obligatory long instrumental track -- "The Lake". I am always stunned by the very ending -- a simple, sweet melody is played softly and expressively on a guitar. The melody is repeated, and with each repeat, more instruments enter, until this sweet naive little melody is being exclaiming full force. It demands to be played extra loud! And such a nice ending to the album. I always get the sense that even though Mike was (apparently) traumatized by someone, he still could see the intense wonder and beauty in the world, and wanted to show people just how intensely wonderful life is.

I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS ALBUM & I THINK IT IS A LOVELY ALBUM TO HAVE PLAYING WHEN U ARE CHILLING OUT. THE LAKE IS A GREAT INSTRUMENTAL, TO FRANCE AND POISON ARROW ARE GREAT SONGS. I CANNOT FAULT ANYTHING ON THIS ALBUM.