Alice Coltrane - Huntington Ashram Monastery (1969)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
Alice Coltrane & Carlos Santana - Illuminations (1974)

Dreamy, psychedelic fusion from the great Alice Coltrane. Recently, I've heard way too many so-called friends (two, to be precise) say that they never could get into her music. Yeah, the glimmering sounds of a harp being played by a literal master over a slow-burning, in-the-pocket rhythm section -- who would ever wanna listen to that? We should be thanking our lucky stars that we got to share a world with her. I WILL FIGHT YOU.

Track listing:
1. Huntington Ashram Monastery
2. Turiya
3. Paramahansa Lake
4. Via Sivanandagar
5. Ihs
6. Jaya Jaya Rama

Galaxy after galaxy

You should also check out:

Dorothy Ashby - Soft Winds: The
Swinging Harp of Dorothy Ashby (1961)

Bennie Maupin -
The Jewel in the Lotus (1974)

Alice Coltrane & Carlos Santana - Illuminations (1974)

Hazy, sprawling psychedelic jazz-rock. A meditative, kaleidoscopic sound made up of harp, guitar, piano, saxophone, organ, sitar, lush, cinematic strings, and probably a bunch of other instruments. Because my first real awareness of Santana came about during his "Smooth" era, I've never really given him the time of day, but this is making me think that I may have missed the boat.

Track listing:
1. Guru Sri Chinmoy Aphorism
2. Angel of Air - Angel of Water
3. Bliss: The Eternal Now
4. Angel of Sunlight
5. Illuminations

Sing, for song drives away the wolves

Also listen to:

Out of Focus -
Four Letter Monday Afternoon (1972)

Picchio dal Pozzo -
Picchio dal Pozzo (1976)