|
Shakti and John Mclaughlin | 
| Artist: Shakti With John Mclaughlin
Label: Columbia
Category: Music
List Price: £8.99
Buy New: £4.98
You Save: £4.01 (45%)
New (25) Used (5) from £3.74
Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 12050
Format: Live
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.3 x 5 x 0.4
EAN: 5099746790523
ASIN: B000026FP4
Release Date: April 25, 1994
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
|
| Tracks:
| • | Joy | | • | Lotus Feet | | • | What Need Have I For This |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Customer Reviews:
The meeting of the spirits November 16, 2008
So this was the first of the three albums released by the original Shakti lineup. A live release from 1975, it features John McLaughlin on an extraordinary hand made acoustic guitar, with sympathetic drone strings akin to a sitar, and three Indian classical virtuosi, L.Shankar on violin, Zakhir Hussain on Tabla and Vikku Vinayakram on ghatam (claypot, yes its a pot made out of clay and the playing is incredible). This ia arguably the first album of so called 'World Music'. It represented a huge departure for John McLaughlin, who had built up a mighty reputation with the various incarnations of the highly electric Mahavishnu Orchestra, and who now let it all go to pursue a completely new and unprecedented kind of acoustic music that the world was not really ready for at the time, but has since gone on to become a legendary landmark that will be remembered long after most music from that period is forgotten.
Each of the three classic Shakti albums has a somewhat different character. The following year saw the release of A Handful of Beauty which like this album consists of long, raga-like constructions, but with the emphasis on beauty, elegance and grace. Following that, in 77, came the finalNatural Elements: Limited Edition which was more 'song' based, shorter tracks with more formal construction and a jazz-like harmonic interplay between the two melodic instruments. The defining characteristics of this album however are intense fire and passion.
The album consists of two long, high-speed raga like tracks of dizzying virtuosity, with the relatively short and deeply touching Lotus Feet sandwiched between them. What comes across from the performance is a sense of the hot, sweaty excitement in the hall on the night. Something captured in the acoustic of the recording tells you that it must have been an extraordinary event, and you can feel the drpped jaws and held breath of a stunned and entirely captivated audience. McLaughlin puts all the venom that he displayed on the electric guitar with Mahavishnu into this extraordinary acoustic guitar, so that you can barely tell the difference. Shankar's violin whirls and spins and the two percussionist drive each other on to ever increasing speed and subtlety of rhythmic power.
This is a historic album that defines the beginning of world music and is a must for any self-respecting eclecticist.
Ha Ha HA! January 16, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Mind blowing
I recently bought "Friday night in san Fransisco, 1980" PAco De Lucia, Al Di Meola and John Mcloughlin. Sent goospimples down my spine. Which introduced me to the amazing skills of John Mclaughlin. In the last year I've also been listening to a lot of Ravi Shankar and Zakir Hussein, amongst other indian classical musicians.
So... finding out about this album, a combo of both, was beautiful.
Took me a while to get my hands on it. But now its here. Bloody hell!!Severe GOOOOSE PIMPLES!!!
"Joy" what a beast of a track - zakir hussein beating the crap (well not quite that brutal) out of his tabla all the way through with John freestyling with his guitar like a made man on top. And what about Shankar on the Violin!!! ahhhh I love it.. almost tear jerking. 18 minutes and not a second of boredom!
"Lotus feet" - Almost the oposite to Joy - Mclaughlin, shankar and Zakir playing a much softer composition, real antidote for the mind beating you recieve throughout Joy
"What Need have I" - Man! I think I'm going to cry. The atmosphere, the sounds.... the construction... beautiful! They all have a go at doing their stuff on this track. Hussein!!! you're taking the mick! Rhythm genius! Lovely little Percussion discussion with the mridangams (In case you dont know, looks like a big clay pot... and sounds like one) Mclaughlin, top form as always... and shankir.... aaaaaahhhh! it makes me want to throw up! In a good way.
If you haven't worked it out yet. I like this album quite a bit. No reserves in giving it 5.
Dont waste any more of your time.
BUY THIS!!!
surprise! July 26, 2001
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
this album is really a power from nature. it was a huge surprise at the time it was recorded, and it continues surprising me each time i listen to it. the music is really powerful (as in "joy"), and at the same time, extremely sweet and dreamy (as in "lotus feet", maybe one of the most beautiful compositions by john mclaughlin). highly recomendable for someone who is looking for the very beggining of the cooperation between indian musicians and jazz musicians, and a MUST for every guitar fan.
|
|
|
|
| |
