ABRAXAS

I used to think the debut album and "Abraxas" were virtually interchangeable soundwise but repeated listening reveal the second album to be far more sophisticated."Se a Cabo" and "Hope You're Feeling Better"are the the only tracks that harkens back to the rough-n-ready energetic style of the previous album. The relatively low key opening track "Singing Winds,Crying Beasts" sees them exploring the fusiony style they would develop on "Caravanserai" and works well as an opener but my review of that album makes clear I am happy it only the opener.The best known tracks here are the Fleetwood Mac cover "Black Magic Woman",the ultra punchy Tito Puente song"Oye Como Va"and the quite sublime instrumental "Samba Pa Ti" and the aforementioned "Se a Cabo" all of which makes this album a Classic. However it is one of the deeper cuts "Incident at Neshabur" where they really start to explore the Jazz Rock in earnest which makes this album n essential purchase. Another stone cold Classic-5 stars