Universal Consciousness

The harmonically themed instrumentation here is more grounded in earthy tones; tamboura, electric organ, drums, harp, piano, bass and a string section (which Ornette Coleman bravely transcribed the arrangements for) all comprise an organic ensemble. The title track bursts open with a call and response between the strings and Coltrane’s Harp before the organ dissolves over a tense dance between Jimmy Garrison’s bass guitar and Jack DeJohnette’s melodic drumming. Tellingly, “Battle at Armageddon” reflects more violent themes with Coltrane’s sporadic organ notes climbing hand and foot upwards over aggressive mountainous rhythms while her harp sings the battle hymn. Tensions melt down the watery “Oh Allah” with subtly undulating drones buzzing under modal keyboard touches and brushes on DeJohnette’s snare fluttering spasmodically like butterfly wings. “Hare Krishna” cantillates with candle-like flickers of minor keys adjacent to lilting strings to play with the elegance and pacific beauty of a Hindu mantra. Both “Sita Ram” and “The Ankh of Amen-Ra” branch from “Hare Krishna” making for a distinguishable “side two” of this album.