WELCOME

I don't agree with other reviewers' rating of this superb record by Santana. We may not be in front of a piece the quality of Santana III or the mythical Caranvaserai, which, by the way, I tend to find more and more mythical, regarding its previous efforts and more to par with the following; anyway, I do think we are in front of a work as important in Santana's sound and style as Borboletta (that is, Volvoreta, a Spanish nickname for butterfy) or Abraxas.

There is a total renewal of the band line-up, with important changes: the twin keyboard players, as well as the twin percussionists, backing new solo appearances in the form of saxes besides Carlos' guitar. And there is also the much improved vocals (Flora Purim, Leon Thomas), some orchestration here and there (by Mrs Turiya Alice Coltrane) and starring appearances by the now twin-soul, like-mind Mahavishnu J.M. - in a glorious long theme inflamed by celestial inspiration as is Flame-Sky - or by the sax player Jules Broussard. The list is endless and altogether serves to provide a wall of sound -but this has always been a house brand in Santana- that you can laugh a Mr Spector expectations.

If the first two cuts let you a bit indifferent -they need more than a listen-, once you get to Samba de Sausalito you the fiesta is about to begin and it does not really stop until you reach the last gloom of Flame-Sky's fire. Welcome, the title track is a sort of anti-climax, which is now doubled by the bonus track Mantra, leaving you in a perfect state of mind and body after almost an hour of musical massage and trascendental meditation

Four well-deserved stars for Santana's fifth studio record, which will delight you as much as the previous or following ones.

Ibnacio, Somewhere in south Spain, 25 November, 2014.

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