Alice Coltrane - Universal Consciousness (Impulse)

I have heard all the opinions imaginable about the late Alice Coltrane, from “She’s riding on Trane’s coat-tails and her music is wallpaper,” to “She’s the real visionary and her music is pure revelatory genius.” I have enjoyed her work, especially this fairly early effort. There’s nothing easy or serene about the title track, nor does it sound very much like husband John’s later compositions. Alice’s enveloping organ playing does much to set this disc apart from “Meditations” or “Ascension.”

Beyond clusteral experimentation, the soundworld is lush, carpeted with strings and percussion to the point of achieving a Specteresque wall of sound, to beautiful effect as the disc progresses. “Hare Krishna” floats through a haze of violins and organ drones, light bells, cymbals and harps heralding the jasmine-scented organ trills that serve as the main melodic material. Thick folds of bass and other namelessly pervasive and heavily effected lower-register instruments give the sense of opening onto the infinite, especially on a nice pair of headphones.

It is a slowly emerging wonder to hear the “world music” component become sparser throughout, so that by the time of “The Ankh of Amen-Ra,” only bells and harp, peppered with cymbals, open the proceedings. Rashied Ali and Jack DeJohnette provide sympathetic accompaniment to Alice’s often-distorted organ ruminations, whether monodic or shrieking chords.

I have not enjoyed all her discs as much, but they are all worth hearing. Yes, it’s mood music, sure it’s formulaic, but it’s a sound and vision I’d come to enjoy and respect. I always felt comforted when I heard her voice in interviews, a fact of which I’m reminded as the album fades with a gently wise whisper, exuding deep joy beyond appellation. I’ll miss her presence in the world, the upcoming release of new material providing some small consolation. My heart goes out to those to whom she provided spiritual guidance, those who knew her by quite another name. To me, at this point in my journey, her music is testimony enough, and I thank her for it.

~ Marc Medwin