Sorry to burst your futuristic bubble, but time travel is impossible. No Delorean, Tardis or rabbit hole can transport a person’s physical form to another era. Our minds, though, are a different proposition. Reuniting for their first album in 45 years, the line-up that recorded Santana’s classic ‘III’ have effectively crafted a sonic slingshot capable of hurling listeners back to the early ‘70s, with all the good and not-so-good that entails in 2016.
Many versions of Santana have existed since the San Francisco outfit arrived in a blaze – or rather haze – of glory at Woodstock, but many devotees will cite this incarnation, which finds Gregg Rolie, Michael Shrieve, Michael Carabello and guitarist Neal Schon in tandem with ever-present leader Carlos Santana, as their greatest.
With its colourful fusion of Latin rock, jazz, blues and world rhythms, ‘IV’ mostly eschews the band’s latter day commercial leanings to embrace the sounds of yesteryear.
Yambu boasts mystic organ work, funky licks, Cuban percussion and chanted vocals, its closing beats nodding to Batuka from ‘III’, while Anywhere You Want To Go oozes jazz textures and smooth melodies akin to a sped up No One To Depend On.
Elsewhere, Shake It delivers a rumbling party of rolling rhythms, beefy riffing and bluesy vocals, whereas the mellow Blues Magic sounds like Black Magic woman sharing lovelorn war stories with Gary Moore’s Midnight Blues over a bottle of tequila. The percussive strokes are typically exhilarating throughout, while Schon injects a significant rock vibe to proceedings with Caminando and All Aboard kicking like feisty burros.
The contrasting styles of Santana and his former apprentice makes for a well-rounded six string tapestry, with the Journey man’s dynamism balancing out the old master’s golden tones across the Ron Isley-sung Love Makes The World Go Round and picturesque Echizo. The beautifully romantic instrumental Suenos is all Carlos, though, beginning like a ‘60s spy film score before its cinematic elegance is enhanced by some wonderful nylon-string picking and celestial soloing.
Although the band’s energy somewhat counterbalances the retro feel, the lyrical approach is horribly anachronistic: “Healing the human race...building a rainbow bridge…claiming they’ll unite the world and bring peace.” These sentiments may have played well to the free love crowd but, given the state of the world and ongoing tensions, they feel unrealistic, naive and almost insulting in a modern day context. A glut of embarrassing sexual references fare no better, with the undoubted nadir being: "Want you to play with my electric train, choo-choo.”
The record’s 75 minute run time is also testing and a little early ‘70s brevity would have been nice, with both the psychedelic Fillmore East, a prolonged bit of dull noodling for the tripping hippy generation, and ambient drone of Forgiveness better left on the cutting room floor.
‘IV’ doesn’t possess the incendiary spontaneity or ground breaking exploration that ignited early offerings, but they’re no longer fearless youths using mind altering substances to explore the musical cosmos. Today what was once pioneering is now vintage. It’s undoubtedly nostalgic but the band are merely making the same collaborative sound they always have; it’s only the times that have changed. This record is like slipping on an old, familiar pair of shoes. They may not possess the same fashionable dazzle and lustre, but aren’t half bloody comfortable.
Santana Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sun July 03 2016 - LONDON Eventim Apollo
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