As the second album to document the second
Mahavishnu Orchestra
, this one isn't as, well, apocalyptic as its predecessor, yet it does focus more intently on the band itself.
Jean-Luc Ponty
's curling electric violin lines help give this
Mahavishnu
band a more European sound than its predecessor, and some of the orchestral concepts of
Apocalypse
work their way into the picture via comments by a string trio and trumpet/sax duo. This band also had some interest in a bombastic
funk
direction that may have been borrowed from Mr. "Chameleon"
Herbie Hancock
, and would later be followed by
Mahavishnu Two
's drummer,
Michael Walden
.
Gayle Moran
's ethereal vocals don't date as badly as those on many
jazz-rock
records; at least she can sing. Overall, this
edition is more refined and not as aggressive as the first -- although they could charge ahead pretty hard, as
"Be Happy"
and
"On the Way Home to Earth"
demonstrate -- yet they were still capable of making memorable electric music. ~ Richard S. Ginell