(Acoustic-Fusion) [2 LP] [24/96] Shakti With John McLaughlin - Natural Elements - 1977, A Handful Of Beauty - 1977, FLAC (tracks+.cue)

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Analyzed folder: /Shakti With John McLaughlin - Natural Elements (LP)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR13 -0.12 dB -14.98 dB 01 Shakti With John McLaughlin - LADO 1- Mind Ecology.wav
DR12 -1.53 dB -16.03 dB 02 Shakti With John McLaughlin - Face To Face.wav
DR13 -2.11 dB -17.14 dB 03 Shakti With John McLaughlin - Come On Baby Dance With Me.wav
DR12 -0.12 dB -14.63 dB 04 Shakti With John McLaughlin - The Daffodil And The Eagle.wav
DR12 -0.11 dB -14.28 dB 05 Shakti With John McLaughlin - LADO 2- Happiness Is Being Together.wav
DR14 -0.59 dB -17.23 dB 06 Shakti With John McLaughlin - Bridge Of Sighs.wav
DR14 -0.54 dB -16.00 dB 07 Shakti With John McLaughlin - Get Down And Sruti.wav
DR13 -7.23 dB -25.39 dB 08 Shakti With John McLaughlin - Peace Of Mind.wav
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Number of files: 8
Official DR value: DR13

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Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – John McLaughlin
Design – Paula Scher
Engineer – Jean Ristori
Ghatam, Percussion [Nal], Kanjira [Kanjeera], Jew's Harp [Moorsing (Juice Harp)], Vocals – T.H. Vinayakram*
Illustration [Cover] – John Alcorn
Management – Joseph D'Anna, Nat Weiss*
Producer – John McLaughlin
Tabla, Timbales, Bongos, Dholak, Percussion [Nal], Triangle, Vocals – Zakir Hussain
Violin, Viola, Vocals – L. Shankar*

« Natural Elements » is Shakti ultimate masterpiece. John Mc Laughlin shows once again his determination to bring jazz rock guitar on new territories. The Shakti ensemble is only composed of Indian musicians (tabla, violin players). McLaughlin is accompanied by L. Shankar for all compositions' writing. The project is entirely acoustic, dominated by fast, technical, very talented Laughlin's guitar style, often in trio with eastern violin parts and repetitive, awesome tabla sections. The first track of side one is an incredible, furious rhythmical composition, an eastern "trip" with "trance" like effects. "Face to face" is a perfect duet mixing different violin / guitar contrasts. A brilliant, technical improvisation. An "eastern" modern jazz combination with possessed tabla parts. Composed by Shankar "come on baby dance" is an other improvisation with colourful raga elements. "The daffodil & the eagle" is an enthusiastic ballad with folk accents and enchanting violin passages. The second side is less impressive (technically speaking) with large, calm pieces with my exotic guitar rhythms and vocals ("happening is being together"). "Piece of Mind" is a peaceful jazzy ballad with detached guitar / violin parts. Quite beautiful! An original effort that can only enrich your CD collection.

RReview by philippe, progarchives.com

Recorded At – Aquarius Studios
Mixed At – Aquarius Studios
Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute
Manufactured By – Columbia Records
Published By – Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Published By – Chinmoy Music, Inc.
Published By – Seethalakshmi Music Inc.
Copyright (c) – CBS Inc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – CBS Inc.

Notes
Recorded and Mixed at Aquarius Studios, Geneva, Switzerland, July 1977.

John McLaughlin Publishing: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and Chinmoy Music Inc. (BMI)

L. Shankar Publishing: Seethalakshmi Music Inc. (BMI)

© 1977 CBS Inc. / (р) 1977 CBS Inc. / Manufactured by Columbia Records
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Side A Label): AL 34980
Matrix / Runout (Side B Label): BL 34980
Matrix / Runout (Side A Stamp): AL 34980-1B
Matrix / Runout (Side B Stamp): BL 34980-1B
Matrix / Runout (Side A & B Pressing Plant Etching): I T
Matrix / Runout (Side A Stamp): C
Matrix / Runout (Side B Stamp): A

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Analyzed folder: /Shakti With John McLaughlin - A Handful Of Beauty (DVD)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR12 -0.09 dB -13.66 dB 01 Shakti With John McLaughlin - LADO 1- La Danse Du Bonheur.wav
DR14 -0.97 dB -17.85 dB 02 Shakti With John McLaughlin - Lady L.wav
DR14 -2.01 dB -19.27 dB 03 Shakti With John McLaughlin - India.wav
DR14 -0.75 dB -17.66 dB 04 Shakti With John McLaughlin - LADO 2- Kriti.wav
DR14 -0.49 dB -17.37 dB 05 Shakti With John McLaughlin - Isis.wav
DR11 -5.13 dB -21.39 dB 06 Shakti With John McLaughlin - Two Sisters.wav
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Number of files: 6
Official DR value: DR13

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Ghatam, Mridangam – T. H. Vinayakram
Guitar [Acoustic], Producer – John McLaughlin
Photography [Back Cover Photo] – Richard Laird
Photography [Cover Photo] – Steinbicker-Houghten
Tabla – Zakir Hussain
Violin – L. Shankar

There might have been a fact that he informed them of the name worldwide as a guitar player in the latter half of the 1960's. The performance and the technology of man who had done the item of Jazz and Fusion were the methods of the expression with a strong originality exactly. However, some the parts where the music character of John Mclaughlin did not have the specific location either might have existed. It might be able to discover some respects by researching this album. The expression of the music character of him who had been done by demanding Miles Davis in the latter half of the 1960's might have been offered to the listener as an exactly reformative part. The part where a limit musical Miles Davis had been felt was succeeded to John McLaughlin in shape in close relation to the cancellation and development from Quintet. The reformative element might have been suitable for a music character at that time at the time of having done exactly as a part mainly composed of Rock by Miles Davis. In should advanced directionality in a situation at that time of John McLaughlin, it might be also true to have contained some necessities.

A universal part of the character and the directionality of the music character of John McLaughlin was emphasized further in the 70's. The performance with Lifetime of Tony Williams will have been liberating of the involved power of music exactly. The power gradually opened exactly became the flood of the sound and emphasized the part of the nucleus.

It is said 1970 meeting of Sri Chinmoy and John McLaughlin who is the spiritual guide in India. This meeting be might inevitability and a certain kind of fatal part for John McLaughlin. Mahavishnu Orchestra that had started in 1971 was a moment when the power of the music had been completely liberated further. A philosophical part and the thought of India might have been reflected in the nucleus. The deriving part from the element that Miles Davis at that time had advocated might have been related to the music character that Mahavishnu Orchestra had done. However, originality for John McLaughlin was always universal. In the situation that shifted from Lifetime to Mahavishnu Orchestra, he might have caught the directionality that had always to be done. Philosophical thought and the creation of India are gradually indeed opened. 1975 year when Mahavishnu Orchestra was temporarily dismantled might be being exactly recognized as a borderline for this Shakti by the listener.

The creation of the music that should be done for John McLaughlin and opening thought are almost expressed by the music character of this Shakti. The reflection of power, the technology, and the thought discharged from the body might exactly almost exclude the part of the extra and be expressed. All facts that appoint musician from India for election of member. And, the element that excludes the electronic part used till then. Part of relations that demand sitar guitar of custom-designed from Gibson Co. to advance music character that John McLaughlin expresses it with Shakti more concretely. And, the point to have appointed the Violin player while following the music character that Mahavishnu Orchestra had. These elements might be completely expressed by Shakti. The technology of Lakshminarayana Shankar and Zakir Hussain might be overwhelming. It is music that is exactly expressed by the element that the technology and the limit become nuclei and consists.

"La Danse Du Bonheur" advances with a complete dash feeling from the part of the imitation of the percussion instrument by the voice. The overwhelming ensemble and a high-speed rhythm might be splendid. Flood of melody of Violin and rhythm with percussion instrument that is reminiscent of Mahavishunu Orchestra. And, the obbligati of the guitar that expands the width of the tune. The technology of the band is complete.

As for "Lady L", thought of India and a philosophical element are reflected in the tune well. Unison of melody by guitar and Violin. And, rhythmically of the percussion instrument that puts fast and slow. Development with a melody that flows in the space and an intermittent part will invite the listener to the world of meditation.

"India" starts by an overwhelming technology of the guitar. The flow that appoints making the melody to make good use of the tuning as an idea is splendid. The production of the melody and the anacatesthesia to get on the calculated arpeggio has been completely passed as a tune. The involved power is gradually opened. It has the part where thought and the philosophy were completely reflected in the tune. The performance of Shakti that flows consistently might be steady.

"Kriti" progresses attended with a bright melody. The melody of the guitar and Violin produces the dash feeling. Rhythm of percussion instrument played by high-speed tempo. And, the height of the quality of the unison and ensemble. The quality will never fall.

As for "Isis", a gentle melody of Violin and the guitar is impressive. The melody of Violin has completely decided the directionality of Shakti. Ensemble might be complete. The height of the performance power of the percussion instrument can be discovered. The melody of the sitar guitar twines round the rhythm developed by a high-speed tempo well. The tune shifts to the part of Solo with the percussion instrument when about eight minutes have passed since the tune started. Offer of complete technology with percussion instrument. And, rhythmically of the continuation high-speed. Performance that puts fast and slow. Resonance of original sound of percussion instrument. Meditation continues. Solo of about six minutes might be a highlight of this tune. And, the processing of the part of Coda is also perfect.

The melody of "Two Sisters" with expression of feelings is impressive. A fantastic melody of the guitar and Violin expands the width of the element of the album. The composition pulled by the melody might be expressed partially of the directionality at which Shakti should aim.

The realization of the music character that John McLaughlin and Shakti exactly thought about at that time is expressed by the work. The music character that becomes a nucleus the element of the music of India and is united is splendidly consistently expressed.

Review by Kazuhiro, progarchives.com

"Kriti" is a traditional composition from South India.
Recorded in Trident London August 1976