Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab US Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Mobile Fidelity's 180g 33RPM LP reissue elevates the album's sonic experience by sourcing it from the original analogue master tapes. Pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, the reissue boasts pristine sound, revealing the intricate details of Santana's dynamic arrangements. Carlos Santana's guitar work, rich in clarity and precision, soars with newfound definition, making his signature solos and leads stand out even more vividly. Inner Secrets, Santana's 1978 album, marked a significant shift towards the rock mainstream, featuring three Top 100 singles and showcasing a more focused, streamlined sound. This period saw Santana transition from their earlier fusion-heavy style to more accessible, radio-friendly material, packing complex passages and passionate performances into tighter song structures, with no track exceeding six minutes.Notable contributions from new band members, including Pete Escovedo on percussion and Chris Solberg on multi-instrumental duties, further shape the album's sound, complementing Graham Lear's sharp drumming and David Margen's groovy bass lines. Highlights include covers like Buddy Holly's 'Well All Right' and the Four Tops' 'One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)'. Greg Walker's raw, soulful vocals bring an edge to the music, embodying the "street and church" quality Carlos Santana admired. Inner Secrets serves as a powerful milestone in Santana's evolution.

Review: A stunning fusion of rock, Latin rhythms and jazz, this 1977 album blended live performances with studio recordings to create a dynamic, immersive experience. Now reissued on vinyl, the double album - which features live and studio recordings - captures the raw energy of Santana's stage presence while showcasing Carlos and co's refined musicianship. The album's biggest hit, 'She's Not There', reinterprets The Zombies' classic with soaring guitar work and Latin percussion, turning it into a mesmerising jam. 'Flor d'Luna (Moonflower)' is a beautiful instrumental piece, filled with Carlos Santana's signature, expressive guitar melodies. 'Dawn / Go Within' opens the album with a mystical, jazz-tinged atmosphere that blends the spiritual with a musical exploration throughout the album. Live recordings such as 'Soul Sacrifice / Head, Hands & Feet (Drum Solo)' bring the band's electrifying energy to the forefront, while 'Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen' revisits their earlier hit with even more intensity. 'Europa (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile)' is another gem, a slow-burning instrumental that highlights Santana's unmatched ability to blend emotion and technical prowess. Moonflower was a commercial and critical success, reinforcing Santana's status as innovators in rock and Latin music, and even now, it's pretty obvious why.

Review: Standing as one of Santana's most remarkable live albums, capturing the band's extraordinary chemistry and virtuosic performances during their 1973 tour. Originally released in Japan and not available domestically until much later, this triple LP remains a definitive document of the band's fusion period, blending Latin, Afro-Cuban, jazz, rock and psychedelic elements. The album showcases the thrilling improvisations and spiritual depth of the eight-piece lineup, featuring legendary tracks like 'Every Step of the Way', 'Toussaint L'Overture' and an incendiary 'Incident at Neshabur'. The reissue, sourced from the original master tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl, offers audiophile-quality sound, enhancing the clarity and balance of the performance. The dynamic range, rich bass and vivid percussion are rendered with exceptional presence, offering an immersive listening experience. With the inclusion of seven previously unreleased tracks, Lotus captures the band at its peak, delivering both precision and passion. This reissue is a stunning tribute to Santana's pioneering fusion era and in its most complete and unique packaging yet.

Review: Carlos Santana was one of the most prolific artists of the 1970s and 80s, and later in that period is when he released his fourth solo album. After a relentless pace of an average of more than an album per year since his band's 1969 debut, this Grammy-winning effort was his last release before a well-earned break in that run. The largely instrumental album showcases Santana's signature guitar tones with plenty of signature soulful energy and masterful control over his playing. He was supported by a stellar lineup including Tony Williams, Alphonso Johnson, Buddy Miles and Orestes Vilat and Mobile Fidelity's limited reissue presents the album with audiophile sound quality that reveals enhanced clarity and the intricate details of Santana's playing.