SATCHMO

I D/Led the album partly based on your reply to my Leviathan review and partly based on Kamikaze Kat's review of their newest album. As soon as I heard the first song I was hooked. I wish I'd spent enough time with the album to give a more extensive review.

6underground

The Antique sucked me into a badass alien spaceship!
(I need to stop doing drugs.)

On a more serious note, "bittersweet" is a perfect word for this album. I can't get over how smooth and destructive it is all at the same time... A+.

SATCHMO

Haha, maybe you need to do more!

I new I was in love with this album when I decided to go to sleep to it. That's something I almost never do.

SATCHMO

#29 "Mahavishnu" John McLaughlin - My Goals Beyond



John McLaughlin is somewhat of an anomaly in the world of jazz. Most discussions of jazz guitar virtuoso will ultimately find him in it, sooner or later, yet his career has at best always been far out of the reach of anything even marginally traditional. His early guitar work on Miles Davis' two pioneering and visionary fusion albums In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew are as close to traditional as McLaughlin has come to in the world of jazz. For most his name and reputation have gathered weight through his involvement with his 70's Jazz fusion group The Mahavishnu Orchestra, and later with the guitar trio that included himself, Paco DeLucia, and Al Dimeola. Both of these ensembles really only flirted with the jazz style and rhetoric, while never becoming fully immersed. In spite of this paradox, his style and musical presence are as enigmatic today as they were nearly forty years ago when this gorgeous entirely acoustic album was first released.

I say record quite purposely, because when this album was released on vinyl in 1970 its structural layout made a lot more sense. The first two songs Peace One and Peace Two (7:19 min/sec and 12:16 min/sec respectively) composed Side A of the record and are the longest songs on the album. They are also the two full ensemble pieces on the album with many of the same musicians that would go on to later collaborate with him in The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Bearing that in mind those familiar with the band will find some degree of familiarity with this portion of the album. There are hints of the jazz fusion group which was to come with the added elements of tabla and Tambura - an instrument providing a droning sound very similar to that of the sitar. These elements and others like it after time became part of Mclaughlin's signature influence from classical India that can be heard in much of his subsequent work, especially on the "Shakti" albums.

The album opens with Peace one an almost Raga/jazz fusion that is controlled, well-paced, yet beautiful with a subtle hint of the fire that is momentarily being held at bay. Jerry Goodman's violin work is specially dynamic and amazingly conveys the feel and the overall rhetoric of the Middle-eastern style.
Peace Two continues the same pace and feel of the first song with the middle eastern elements subdued. The tablas keep pace softly in the background along with McLaughlin's guitar in order to give center stage to Goodman's flute. McLaughlin comes in 3/4 of the way through the song with a very brief and understated solo which carries the song in its direction toward the end.

The rest of the album, the next 8 songs, are a completely different paradigm from the two long ensemble pieces that begin My Goals Beyond., one might even venture to say that if it weren't for the grouping together of the first 2 tracks with the last eight it could easily be considered a completely different album. While retaining the same overall feel and theme of the first two tracks, and certainly keeping the Middle-Eastern style and flair, McLaughlin loses the ensemble for the remainder of the album and goes solo acoustic (although its almost certain that there are overdubbed tracks at work here).

The first track is Mclaughlin's acoustic guitar reworking of the haunting Charles Mingus' standard Goodbye Pork Pie Hat done on a slightly detuned 12 string. McLaughlin captures the brooding essence of the song in a way that I would never think that one man with a guitar ever could.
Something Spiritual follows, and like the title of the song suggests it is a very meditative, classical, yet forceful piece subtly conveying at first the spark that John is known for and then, abruptly turning oblique, diving directly into the visceral fire that Mr. McLaughlin has built his artistry upon.
Hearts and Flowers provides some middle ground with a day-dreamy lightly paced respite to provide contrast to the passionate and ethereal which is to follow.
Phillip Lane where the fiery manic comes out in McLaughlin. This is is easily my favorite display of McLaughlin's brilliance, as it conveys all the transcendental fervor and raga style of his guitar playing.
Waltz for Bill Evans, a cover of a Chick Corea Song, Definitely sees the artists at his most purely contemplative moment. Almost classical in approach this brief repose, just over 2 minutes, leads into follow your heart a McLaughlin Original which almost echoes the 70's soft rock of his contemporaries of the time with his own signature embellishments of course.
Song for my Mother Begins almost as a lament of sorts until abrief pause leads the song into a reprisal of the fiery aggressive passion experienced earlier in Phillip Lane and just as soon as the fever rises the song concludes in an epilogue fashion quite similar to the way it started.
Perhaps the crowning piece own this album is found in the last song with John's reworking of Miles Davis' Classic Blue in Green. Slightly atonal in nature compared to the original, this cover captures just enough of the core melody of the original to make it just as enchanting in its own unique way. Perhaps the only downside of it being, at under 3 minutes long it gently sets you down on the ground just as quickly as it uplifts you.

One very special element of this album, especial in regard to the latter 8 tracks, is the incredible richness of the way in which the beautiful tone of McLaughlin's guitar is represented in the recording of this album. There are no overused compressors or limiters to keep the dynamics of the instrument at bay and compartmentalized. The texture; the good, the bad and the ugly is present front and center throughout the whole album. every bottomed out fret and intonation issue is available for scrutiny. One can almost feel the wood of the body and neck, the metal of the strings while listening to this album; all of which contribute to the absolutely visceral and palpable essence of McLaughlin's artistic presence.

This has always been an album that has been a staple of my collection, no matter how many reincarnations it has gone through. Admittedly I do tend to listen to the latter solo acoustic portion of the album more, especially in the morning where I find its contemplative yet energetic nature a great way to get the day started. Mahavishnu Orchestra fans who have yet to hear this album will fall all over themselves when they listen, I'm sure, as it represents the precursor of the overall vision of the band's music. My Goals Beyond, while not without its fanfare is an absolutely lush representation of the spirit of a main who just by association alone contributed so much to the world of jazz and beyond.

jackhammer

I keep coming to this thread in anticipation of a new review. How many times have you done this album now?

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SATCHMO

Location, location, location. New review by Monday.

Schizotypic

Can't wait for the new review Satchmo, I come every time I get online to see what else has been put on here and to add it to my "to get" get list. Great reviews by the way, keep up all the writing and effort.

Rickenbacker

I do love Mr. Mclaughlin. Anyone looking for an introduction to him should check out Davis' "In a Silent Way", on which he played as part of Davis' second great quartet. Top top stuff.

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last.fm
rym
Talk About the Passion - R.E.M.'s Discography Reviewed

SATCHMO

I've been so over-analytical about what my next entry should be, but don't worry it's coming.

6underground

I tracked this down, and have been able to listen to it once. Which was definitely not enough. You're absolutely right though, the latter part is perfect for a quick pick-me-up. This is ideal for work, when I need music that's more melodic and flowing but not demanding.
Can't wait to listen to it more.
Thank you, thank you!