Divine Light: Reconstructions & Mix Translation - Bill Laswell
The musicCarlos Santanareleased in 1973 and 1974, while heavily informed by his devotion to guru Sri Chimnoy, was hardly the lightweight worship fodder of some other religious rockers. In fact, only Santana's gorgeous, fluid guitar work marked it as rock at all; with the likes ofJohn McLaughlin,Alice Coltrane, and a wide array of percussion and string players on board, the Santana/McLaughlinLove Devotion Surrenderand Santana/ColtraneIlluminationshad more in common with the rich, eclectic sound paintings thatMiles Daviswas then presiding over. Producer-musicianBill Laswell, having remixed and "reconstructed"MilesandBob Marleytapes, now sequences much of the two LPs into this ear-opening suite. One of those records that seems designed to sound great at any time of day or night,Divine Light's thread moves through a gorgeously orchestral opener with hints of Indian music ("Angel of Air") to twoJohn Coltranecompositions (a hypnotic translation of "A Love Supreme," a hushed "Naima"), a lengthy "Angel of Sunlight" with fervid solos by Santana, saxophonistJules Broussard, and electric pianistTom Coster, and the prayerful "Bliss: The Eternal Now" and "Meditation." With Santana's fame greater than ever thanks toSupernatural, the thought thatDivine Lightwill reach some of those new ears is a happy one.--Rickey Wright