Avoiding those "worn-trodden paths" is a real blessing. The sound is astonishingly clear with lots of surprising percussion and bass parts.
Carlos' guitar sound could have been a little "rounder" but this is just the case in a few songs. Like lots of others I'm pretty excited about Africa Speaks.
A very big drawback is that the Santana Band will probably just play the same old (boring) setlist again this summer and Africa Speaks will soon turn into a hardly ever-played-live album, just like S4.
However, my copy will be on heavy rotation the next period.
I hear that many like it, I'm sory I'm not hearing it, I think with the exception of Abatina (Calypso Rose) it's a bad choice of songs. Blue Skies is more like a jazz piece, what is African about that song? And for me personally Buika destroys this whole album, I guess you love or hate her, I am in the latter camp. I had hoped "Africa Speaks" would have had other guests like the legends from Senegal "Orchestra Baobab", Ismael Lo or other African greats.
Yep, does not sound like any other Santana album. Pity Laura Mvula only has a cameo. But Blue Skies is a stand out, especially the coda. The best full album in an age....
Finally, finally something different! And an album that does not immediately fall into place, so you have to listen to it more often. I listened to it completely once this morning and I really enjoyed it. Carlos, the guitarist, has really done his best to prevent worn-trodden paths and has succeeded quite well in my humble opinion.
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