Retro Reviews: Mahavishnu Orchestra: The Inner Mounting Flame

    I decided to launch a new series to imagine myself as a critic at the end of the 60s and start of the 70s, and to rectify certain reviews from Rolling Stone magazine and Creem. This not meant to be contrarian, but to offer a more balanced perspective. Some of the albums reviewed are lesser known titles.

Mahavishnu Orchestra – The Inner Mounting Flame (1971)

****1/2

Producer: John McLaughlin

Musicians: John McLaughin, Rick Laird, Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman

Music: Meeting Of The Spirits, Dawn, The Noonward Race, A Lotus On Irish Streams, Vital Transformation, The Dance Of Maya, You Know You Know, Awakening

Review By Matthew Anthony Allair

    After Mr. McLaughlin has enjoyed a nearly two year association with Miles Davis’s band, he’s decided to branch out. A man who has followed Indian culture, and a practitioner of Sri Chinmoy, his spiritual faith has become a component of his work and approach - the faith aspect will become important in a moment. Unlike John Coltrane’s spiritual faith which lead to the more abstract free jazz approach in the later half if his life. Mr. McLaughlin’s approach is more structured and focused, and his new band is building a new subgenre that will appeal to many rock fans. The path towards the fusion trend has been happening for awhile now. This album may be the apex of that direction.

    To say that John’s lead guitar work is incendiary would be an understatement: but he has put together a team that is equal to his skill and talent. Billy Cobham has been on the scene for awhile now, including stints with Miles, and his ferocity as a drummer is just about unmatched. Keyboardist Jan Hammer is a phenomenal new talent, and he keeps this material interesting and alive. Violinist Jerry Goodman is on par with the rest of the band, there’s some breathtaking moments. Bassist Rick Laird is another solid asset to the ensemble. This band is an important new step as demonstrated by the material.

    The mystery of the opening chords on “Meeting Of The Spirits” sets up the template, and a complex chord and rhythm pattern allows Goodman and McLaughlin free reign. John’s dexterity from the outset is unmatched, which switches to a slower melodic moment before the intensity resumes. Things scale back with the moody groove of “Dawn”, there’s a yearning introspection as McLaughlin and Goodman play in unison in the opener. John’s fire comes through as it progresses with the tempo shifts. It quiets down as it ends. There’s a heavy funk aspect to John’s playing on “The Noonward Race”, there’s a processed effect on Goodman’s playing. Hammer’s electric piano solo has another electronic texture at times that gives it an unreal element. Things are brought down with the lovely “A Lotus On Irish Streams” with some nice acoustic piano, acoustic guitar and violin interplay, a needed shift after the intensity of the prior tracks. Goodman’s violin has an Asian or Indian feel with the approach.

    Regarding the second half, Billy Cobham is allowed to be showcased at the opening of “Vital Transformation”, there’s a juxtaposition between the groove and the musical longing. Hammer’s organ ambiance takes on an unearthly, cosmic quality. The ominous chords set the mood for “The Dance Of Maya” with some great interplay with Cobham. It all shifts into a classic, and playful, blues shuffle in the last half. It becomes self-evident with further listening that McLaughlin may rival several rock players as you dig deeper into the album. “You Know You Know” opens with an introspective quality, basically a dark blues number. Hammer is allowed another showcase on the track as well as Cobham, a gradual slow burn. To say the least with the fiery “Awakening”, the band is at full throttle.

    Similar to the spirituality of Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme” and “Meditations”, McLaughlin’s approach shares the same unsettled searching for a connection of a deity, but he has put on his own stamp, and there’s simply some exhilarating playing throughout from everyone else on this album. There's more than one way to seek something greater than yourself. Recommended.