John McLaughlin resurrected the esteemed old Mahavishnu Orchestra for his mid-'80s quintet, even getting old mate Billy Cobham to fill the drum slot on the band's first album. But this is an entirely different conception than any of the '70s Mahavishnu outfits. The sound is cooler, less strident, more thoroughly dominated by advanced electronic textures -- including a sleekly elegant digital guitar played through a Synclavier. Instead of a violin, Bill Evans contributes some swirling and sometimes bop-flavored work on saxes, and McLaughlin gets mobile but not overly combustible support from keyboardist Mitch Forman and bassist Jonas Hellborg. The homages continue; the opening of "Nostalgia" is exactly that, a throwback to "In a Silent Way" as filtered through digital gear. While this is undeniably prog-minded, beautifully played electric music, it is not terribly absorbing; the quality of the material and the intensity level aren't too high.
by Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist
1
Radio-Activity
2
Nostalgia
3
Nightriders
4
East Side West Side
5
Clarendon Hills
6
Jazz
7
The Unbeliever
8
Pacific Express
9
When Blue Turns Gold
Credits:
Bass Guitar [Fretless, Fretted] – Jonas Hellborg
Composed By – John McLaughlin
Drums, Percussion – Billy Cobham
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Mitchel Forman
Guitar [Digital Guitar, Les Paul Special], Synthesizer [Synclavier II] – John McLaughlin
Percussion [Additional] – Danny Gottlieb
Performer [Flute, Uncredited] – Hari Prasad Chaurasia
(tracks: 9)
Performer [Tabla, Uncredited] – Zakir Hussain
(tracks: 9)
Piano [Yamaha Blow Torch], Synthesizer [Yamaha DX7] – Mitchel Forman
(tracks: 5)
Producer – John McLaughlin
Synthesizer [Synclavier II, Yamaha DX7], Piano – Katia Labeque
(tracks: 9)
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Bill Evans
