After two years basking in the success of Tubular Bells II, in late 1994, Oldfield challenged his audience with something that would be a true test of some sensibilities. The musician presented an album made almost entirely with synthesizers, loops, and drum machines. While some were disappointed, expecting an album closer to the sound that had made him popular, such as Hergest Ridge or Ommadawn, others, on the contrary, praised it as one of his best works. The album was titled The Songs of Distant Earth, and it was an electronic symphony inspired by the book of the same name by Arthur C. Clarke, the same author of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Oldfield's favorite film. The book begins with the end of the solar system and deals with how humanity searches for a new place in the universe to establish its civilization. Although the album is divided into 17 tracks, the final chords of each song flow seamlessly into the next, creating a true musical epic. The first track features words spoken by astronaut William Anders aboard Apollo 8, taken from Genesis, referencing the biblical account of the creation of the Universe. The album's commercial single was "Let There Be Light". The music video showcased Oldfield's keen interest in 3D design and new technologies, incorporating computer-generated characters, locations, and fantastical situations in almost every shot. These effects were groundbreaking for their time, though they didn't receive much attention. Furthermore, the CD-ROM version included an innovative element: it was the first album released for sale in the music market to incorporate a data track for use on a personal computer. Oldfield chose the technology offered by the MacOS operating system at the time to create it.

In 1996, Voyager was released, an album with which the musician sought to reconnect with the Celtic roots that so heavily influenced albums like Ommadawn and Hergest Ridge. The album consisted of short songs that made good use of the electric guitar and other elements of traditional symphonic rock, accompanied by synthesizer effects. The final track was the only composition longer than 10 minutes that he recorded during his time with WEA. It was an orchestral piece titled "Mont St. Michel". The album includes several versions of traditional songs, such as "The Woman of Ireland", which contains a version of "O son do ar" ("The Song of the Sun") by Luar na Lubre featuring Rosa Cedrón. During the recording period, Oldfield bought a house in Ibiza with a sea view to, as he said, "seek union with the elements" and relax. Oldfield also took advantage of Ibiza's festive atmosphere to spend many nights at the island's nightclubs. He even caused a stir one day when he was driving home drunk in his Mercedes and crashed it into a tree. Voyager was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1998 for Best New Age Album, competing in this category against Oracle by the late Michael Hedges, who won posthumously. Also nominated in this category were Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! by Enigma, Oceanic by Vangelis, and Canyon Lullaby by Paul Winter.