ONENESS - SILVER DREAMS, GOLDEN REALITY

4.5 stars really!!!

Well it was about five years since Carlos had had time for another solo adventure away from his group, and I can assure you that the album was definitely worth the wait. With an extended cast of musicians, this album would provide some of the grandeur that had become a bit lost with the group's latest releases. This full-blown JR/F album is simply yet another highlight in a decade that was obviously very kind to Carlos. As the title indicates, there appear to have two distinct

Sonically speaking, if you can imagine Caravanserai or Borboletta with the Amigos timbre, you may have an idea of what this album sounds like. Most of the short tracks segue so naturally into one another that by the time you notice a full stop, you are already on track 7 and had such a good time that it appears all too short. But the album is hardly flawless: there are some completely out-of-place tracks such as that precise seventh track, the sub-title track, Silver Dreams. The following track, a triumphant Victory is much less intrusive, but astonishes by the recording level and the first side of the album finishes on the inhabitual (for Santana) piano-solo guru's Song

The second side start on the orgasmic real title track, which will bring shivers down your spine and its awesome majestic ambiances. Du grand art, Monsieur!! The next funky sung jazz-rock does not stand much a chance (although it is quite worthy) after such an excellent track, but still manages to catch your attention. Golden Dawn is another one of those sublime instrumentals that only Carlos can write. The album is nearing its end with the self-explanatory Morning Sun, then Carlos' wife reciting a short Chinmoy text and a very blistering track dedicated to himself and I can tell you that rarely has such well deserved tooting his own horn has been justified.

An awesome album very close to his bests such as Illuminations, LDS and Caravanserain or Borboletta, this album is warmly recommended. If it was not for one small glitch (the unlucky seven), this album would be yet another five stars album.

My ''devotion'' to the man won't prevent some accurate ratings: being his solo or band's efforts.

Needless to say that this ''Oneness'' is one of his poorest so far. The debut live one with Miles being probably the weakest of all.

When I listen to this work, I have some major difficulties to identify a great track. Each of them are either too hectic or too loose to be really interesting. Some sort of average jamming sessions with little flavour, at best.

There are hardly one great songs I can recommend here. Just have some other angles to the work of this great man/band from 1970 to 1972 with such great albums as ''Abraxas'', ''Third'', ''Caravanserai'' and their debut one. The solo with Mc Laughlin is also a must own IMO.

''Oneness'' is just a collection of short stuff with little interest. Orchestrations again, little inspiration and the worst vocals you could ever experienced. Of course, Greg Walker has never been an aficionado of my mine, and his poor contribution won't raise the quality of this album of course.

Two stars, nothing else.

30 years ago I heard a music playing in a music store and then I discover this real masterpiece. Jim Jeannie is a gem with a drum intro followed by guitar and key solos conducted by impressive bass performance. Good to relate with Moonflower's El Morocco. Other point of view could mention reminiscenses with Al Di Meola dueling with Jam Hammer. You have to listen Oneness in a quiet place to enjoy the ocean and then the evolution of guitar and drum playing. After all these years it's good to remember Santana in Woodstock and even in recent videos, but that period of 79 he was at his best. Please give yourself a chance to get this album!

I bought this cassette 30 years ago. It was a favorite of mine back then. 25 years after I listened to it for the last time, I grabbed it and a cassette player again and listened to it for a week.

This album is a mix of fusion dominated by Carlos Santana's excellent guitarplaying and some other elements I do not care too much about. Those elements are funk and latin-pop. The title track is a pop ballad, no less. A pretty good one, I have to add. But there is some other stuff here which reminds me about Lionel Ritchie and Commodores. I can live with the funk stuff, but not with that pop stuff. But thankfully, Carlos Santana let his guitar rip enough times to make me almost forget those moments. His guitars and the fusion stuff are the stuff here I really like. It also makes me more interested in his other work and I will explore more of his stuff in the coming years.

My main gripe with this album is the huge diversity which to me seems like a ship without a captain. This album feels like a mix of whatever came floating down the river. Anyway, I love some of the stuff on this album and I am pleased. My musical taste was not that hopeless 30 years ago. Viva Carlos Santana.

3 stars