Alice Coltrane: The Ecstatic Music Of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:



Alice Coltrane

Label:

Luaka Bop

June/2017

Catalogue Number:

680899 0087-2-3

RecordDate:

1982-95

Alice Coltrane took the sanskrit name Turiyasangitananda as much more than a perfunctory nod to eastern religion and philosophy. She engaged in spiritual practise in an entirely comprehensive way from the mid-1960s up until her death in 2007, and founded an ashram outside of Los Angeles to create a community whose primary values were humane. Vedic devotional music played a key role in her life, and this is a very welcome compilation of works that were only previously available on privately pressed cassette. The bulk of the material is based on deeply hypnotic mantras sung by Coltrane's followers that are enhanced by her own vividly expressive synthesiser work. Some of the sounds she produced are otherworldly, especially the wave-like polyphonic chords and dramatic ascending figures that have the quality of a kind of spaceship lift off. Having said that, the (sadly uncredited) solo singers are excellent, and the subtle infusions of gospel are entirely logical given Coltrane's own strong Detroit church roots. She also occasionally sings lead and reveals a pleasingly subtle low timbre. Fans of her legendary Impulse! period will be delighted to know that there's a gorgeously layered reprise of the anthem ‘Journey In Satchidananda’ that brings a new sense of inner peace to the blissful melody. If Alice Coltrane's place as a true original in 21st century music was ever in doubt then this beguiling, entrancing work, shaped by Indian religious chants, electronica, western pop, careful orchestration and concise improvisation, confirms that in no uncertain terms.

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