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The 26-minute opening cut, "The Lovers," captures the essence of Les McCann's 1971 classic
Invitation to Openness, reissued here by Label M's Joel Dorn, the album's original producer. Heavily influenced by
Miles Davis's groundbreaking
In a Silent Way,
Invitation builds layers of electric pianos and synthesizers over a bed of gently rocking rhythms, interspersed with
Cornell Dupree's wah-wah guitar and
Yusef Lateef's exotic flute and oboe. Recorded with the many instruments separated by reverb, it flows with a spacey funkiness that slowly builds into a churning, smoldering stew. "Beaux J. Poo Boo" and "Poo Pye McGoochie" are more conventionally funky, early 70's style, though the use of multiple percussion gives them a world-beat flavor.
Invitation to Openess invites comparison in its more blustering moments to the electric work of
Herbie Hancock's
Mwandishi period, although Les McCann's soulful electronic experiments tend to exude a funkier and more sensual atmosphere.
--Wally Shoup
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