THE INNER MOUNTING FLAME

A grandiose introduction for a grandiose jazz fusion project by Mc Laughlin and his dream team (notably with the virtuoso Billy Cobham and Jerry Goodman). "Meeting the spirit" opens the ballet with a complex, rhythmical exercise and a bright duet between Mc Laughlin technical guitar style & Goodman's original violin touch. After an avalanche of technical solo sessions the atmosphere turns to something calmer with the beautiful & emotional «Dawn". Mc Laughlin guitar solo delivers a touching, melodic texture. "Noonward Race" is a freak out, fast & technical song developed as a jam session, essentially improvised. "A Lotus on Irish Streams" is a nice, soft interlude with an acoustic expression. "Vital Transformation" is a catchy, energic, rhythmical tune with some funky accents and an excellent violin / guitar duet. "You Know, You Know" is my favourite track on this one; a mind-blowing, mysterious composition with a catchy repetitive bass pattern, time to time punctuated by solid guitar solos. An achieved and tasty debut album. Their monument remains "Birds of Fire"