NO MYSTERY

Another technically capable album from the classic Return to Forever lineup, No Mystery is enhanced by the growing guitar skills of Al DiMeola, whose shredding on several tracks makes key contributions to guitar technique which would soon be adopted in a variety of genres. The strongest composition on the album is probably the closing Celebration Suite, but the greater emphasis on songs composed by the whole band opens the door to a greater sonic diversity than heard on the previous album, with funk and the smoother side of jazz both making their presence felt.

The album is, by and large, a satisfying work which gives the impression of a band continuing to develop its sound, but the increasing sonic diversity can risk making it feel a little directionless and unfocused at times. A growing focus on Corea's synthesiser skills saves the day, with this perhaps being as much of a showcase for Corea's synthesiser work as, say, Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy was a showcase for Bill Connors' guitar.