CARAVANSERAI

This was my introduction to Santana (apart from a couple of well known songs from the radio). I didn't quite know what to expect really. The music is mostly quite slow, often hypnotic and "hazy". The opening number with its acoustic bass is especially hypnotic and has the ability to put you in a kind of trance. An intriguing way to open the album. As I said, the tempo is rather slow and it often feels more like a relaxed jam session than a series of well thought out compositions. The music is not very complex or elaborated, especially not compared to most things I've heard from the Jazz-Rock/Fusion sub genre. Indeed, I have a hard time seeing what is supposed to be progressive about this album. However, it often floats from one song to another in a lovely way and it does kind of "progress" in a way from the very slow and very low key opening to the rather up tempo conclusion.

The majority of the album is instrumental, but there are a few of vocal numbers thrown in as well. The vocal passages are mostly very brief and quite simple in nature. The only track which is really vocally driven is Stone Flower. Although this album was released in 1972, to my ears it has a strong 60's psychedelic sound that is most apparent on this song. Still, this song is the most memorable one here and that might speak in favour of my point that Santana belongs in the 60's. But then again I would say the same thing about Dark Side Of the Moon.

I can definitely see why people appreciate this album, but I do not understand how on earth it can be in the top 50 albums of all time on this site. It is good, but no more than merely good in my opinion. There is nothing offensive or annoying about this album, but in the end it did not leave a lasting impression on me.

Nice cover art, though.