Alice Coltrane – Eternity

A vinyl reissue in Europe of this would be much appreciated, as the last one was in 1976, and getting stuff from the US isn't affordable :S

Anyways, a personal favourite from Alice Coltrane! Just due to the sheer diversity and energy of the pieces here. You've got the "regular" free jazz, both the mad and the soothing kinds, but you've also got classical interpretations, and more rhythmical pumping funky elements. You've also got a choir going on Om Supreme, as well as bigger orchestral arrangements on Spiritual Eternal and Spring Rounds. On top of that there's instrumental variation: Soft embraces of the rhodes on Om Supreme, but also voice like expression through the (almost funny sounding, but fat and epic) organ on Los Caballos, Spiritual Eternal and Morning Worship, and of course her cosmic harp harmonies, on Wisdom Eye.

This is an album that shows many of Coltrane's abilities. Playing, writing, arranging, interpreting (transcribing) and conducting. As well as her own spiritual lyrics in the chanting of Om Supreme. Much respect for this thing, and of course the rest of her astonishing influential work. Peaaaacccccce <3

Los Caballos is a frigging monster without genus or comparison. Listen without delay.

This is the first album of Alice Coltrane where she starts to chant invocations in her songs, inspired by her association with Indian spiritual traditions. Before she had songtitles in reference to her calling, and in later albums she actually starts chanting traditional mantra's, such as in some of the songs on the Transcendence and Radha Krishna Nam Sankirtan albums. On this album we find Om supreme, where she uses her artistic freedom to make up her own invocation. Om Supreme Bhagavan, she sings. Bhagavan is a Sanskrit name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, meaning Possessor of all opulences. "When i call you to Brahma-loka, you know i will meet you on Brahma-loka, Shiva-loka, Satya-loka, Turiya-loka." Loka is the word for sphere, planet, and Shiva-loka is the place where Lord Shiva resides, or Brahma-loka for Lord Brahma. After that it is about Paramahamsa. That refers to a perfected being, Param means highest and a Hamsa is a swan. A swan-like person. This is generally not the way in which the Lord is addressed, by the way, and Bhagavan is not residing on those loka's they sing about either, so i'm not sure of her understanding there. But never mind the specifics, Alice was into intergalactic travel for sure, and to rest in peace is not likely what she was aiming at. This songs breathes her calling to meet her Lord.