Alan Shorter

Going for the One is perhaps the most overlooked item in the Yes catalog. It marked Rick Wakeman's return to the band after a three-year absence, and also a return to shorter song forms after the experimentalism of Close to the Edge, Tales from Topographic Oceans, and Relayer. In many ways, this disc could be seen as the follow-up to Fragile. Its five tracks still retain mystical, abstract lyrical images, and the music is grand and melodic, the vocal harmonies perfectly balanced by the stinging guitar work of Steve Howe, Wakeman's keyboards, and the solid rhythms of Alan White and Chris Squire. The title track features Howe on steel guitar (he's the only prog rocker who bothers with the instrument). "Turn of the Century" and the album's single, "Wonderous Stories," are lovely ballads the way only Yes can do them…

If ever there were a recording that should be played in small doses, it's this one! Alan Hovhaness' serene, metaphysical, meditative music can send you into a near trance-state or, depending on the work, into a rage. Working with the principles of oriental art and mysticism, Hovhaness creates musical cells of exquisite beauty and then, coming from that same paradigm, repeats them seemingly endlessly. To some western ears, particularly mine, this can become tiresome unless I'm sitting in the lotus position. So taking these pieces one at a time, I have to say that the Spirit of the Trees, a sonata for harp and guitar, begins in an atmosphere of haunting beauty. It does go on a bit long, but that's okay, as long you stop the CD there. Otherwise, it's all going to start sounding the same pretty quickly. The remaining works are shorter and hold your attention more easily, especially the fascinating Upon Enchanted Ground for Flute, Cello, Giant Tam-Tam, and Harp. Talk about fun! Hovhaness is a wonderful composer for percussion, especially exotic percussion. But, this is a harp disc, and I'm pleased to report that Yolanda Kondonassis is completely in command of the style of these works, effectively conveying various moods through use of color and often subtle articulation techniques. Telarc's magical recording places you in the same space as the performers. This is a fine recording, really. Just remember, unless you're into all-day chanting at an Ashram, put plenty of space between the selections.

Victor Carr

Albert Ayler was a lightning rod for criticism both from within the music community and from without. His free-thinking approach made him a bane for jazz traditionalists, and his incorporation of popular American musical styles like soul, R&B, and even rock made him a sellout to the free jazz crowd. His volume in The Impulse Story series – one of ten individual artist titles to accompany both the book The House That Trane Built: The Impulse Story by Ashley Kahn and the four-CD label history set of the same name from Universal, is in many ways the very evidence of both points on the scale. ~ AllMusic

Very fresh Spock's Beard's album is a strong one. Strong - for one of the greatest band re-invited progressive rock in late 90-s. Strong - between so many useless clones of 70-s real great progressive bands all around…

Carlos Santana & Alice Coltrane - Illuminations (1974) {Columbia 485810 2 rel 2006}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 179 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 85 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 13 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1974, 2006 Columbia / Sony Music | 485810 2
Jazz / Jazz Rock / Fusion / Raga / Experimental / Psychedelic

Carlos proves to the world that he's still got his jazz chops in the right direction – even during his stardom of the mid 70s – and he's working here with a group that mixes avant players like Coltrane, Jack DeJohnnette, and Dave Holland, and funkier players like Jules Broussard and Armando Peraza. The tracks are spacey meditation jams – sometimes quite out, sometimes mellow and soulful – and titles include "Guru Sri Chinmoy Aphorism – Angel Of Air", "Angel Of Water", "Angel Of Sunlight", and "Illuminations".