SANTANA — Abraxas (review)

SANTANA — Abraxas album cover Album · 1970 · Latin Rock/Soul Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
dreadpirateroberts
"Abraxas" pretty much leaves a great debut for dead, as Santana deliver a classic follow-up.

I imagine it's hard for a reader's eyes not to glaze over at the word 'classic' but the album is a classic; it's aged well, it was an artistic and commercial success at its time, it developed a genre and cemented the careers of many musicians. And last but not least, it's perfect music for summer, just play it on a hot day with your windows down and see. (And it has great sleeve art too, provided by the late Mati Klarwein who was, of course, also well-known for the "Bitches Brew" cover.)

To the music within. Jazz really starts to creep in to the songs on this album, with more adventurous arrangements and that undeniable Latin-sound getting expanded via fuller percussion, additional overdubs and a warm production. Santana's guitar tone and style is still psych-influenced but he's also subtler and more relaxed perhaps, despite the pressure on the band to capitalise on the success of Woodstock and "Santana". Lead singer and organist Rolie remembers it being less than easy: "for me it was the complete opposite. It was like: okay, now we really got to prove we can really do this. We had three years to develop all that music [from the first album]. And we had to do the next one WITHIN a year."

Well something clicked and they produced the goods. There isn't a dull moment on "Abraxas" even if 'Mother's Daughter' doesn't match the rest of the material. Shrieve is as vital to the sound as Rolie's B3 but the real highpoint is the compositions. Aided by a smooth version of Puente's 'Oye Como Va' and a fantastic reworking of Fleetwood Mac's 'Black Magic Woman' the band scored two hits, weaving their undeniable pop appeal around jazzier outings.

One of which - 'Incident at Neshabur' - being a song that shifts between moods and tempos and allows Santana to wring notes from his guitar with almost the same intensity he manages in 'Samba Pa Ti.' In this piece he starts out gentle and the whole band allow the song to build slowly, creating a near five minute summation of everything enjoyable about Carlos' at his most thoughtful. Other songs like 'Se a Cabo' continue the Latin theme complete with a little chanting in Spanish, while the third single released from "Abraxas" 'Hope You're Feeling Better' brings the biggest rock moments on the album, wah adding to a great signature riff.

This one's a record that makes you want to hear more, and one that was vital to the band's future, both in terms of creative direction and success. Four stars.
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