John McLaughlin’s latest fusion is a true gem. I loved his previous album "Industrial Zen", but I have a slight issue with the sound. These days John likes to use a lot of midi gear and though I’m sure that makes his music development process a lot easier, I feel it loses a little in the freshness of the sound. His guitar technique loses something in the midi transforms, luckily for McLaughlin, his genius lies in his choice of notes – just like Coltrane. These days, he can still maintain the subtle bends and blue tails he carefully places in the music, but that freshness of an acoustic resonance is lost.

With his latest, I feel he has made another step in fusion, successfully merging his comfortable midi development environment with some great acoustic musicians – its clear in this work how working with the sliding instrument, Bansuri and some kind of Veena – possibly a Mohan Veena, has elevated the music with a fresh feel – and the percussion! its lovely to hear such fresh trebbles and Indian knocks throughout.

I think maybe Industrial Zen had more interesting compositions, but lacked the presence this album has – sounds like John has a new target for his passion for fusion.

What a brilliant musician, still managing to find new paths in this era of his life shows how his determination has prevented any staleness from creeping in.

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