Return To Forever
Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy

From that great musical and artistic factory in general that was the legendary "Bitches Brew" by Miles Davis, the famous pianist Chick Corea also emerged. At the time, he was not yet so famous; he reached celebrity status in the '70s with a band he founded called Return to Forever, one of the historic groups in global jazz-rock.

The group had already laid its foundations in 1971 with a self-titled album and was gradually evolving into the great stylistic solutions that would characterize them in the years to come. "Hymn of The Seventh Galaxy" is the third studio work; at the time, Corea decided to change the lineup to steer toward explicitly Jazz-Rock styled music. He kept only bassist Stanley Clark alongside him and brought in a new guitarist, Bill Connors, and a new drummer, Steve Gadd, and they went into the studio. However, some disagreements at the time led Gadd to leave the group, so Corea chose Lenny White in his place, and the album was re-recorded. What remains for us is the second version, the one with White. Compared to the first two albums, there is an evolution from a technical standpoint; Corea managed to achieve that decisive shift already mentioned that he desired. The music also includes some influences from Latin Jazz and intriguing elements of fusion that make the album extremely appealing. Highlighted are Corea's excellent compositions, very sophisticated and highly visible, the interesting guitar touch of Connors, who manages to distort the guitars to great effect, White's commendable work especially on percussion, and Clark's bass, which at first glance seems less visible but offers a sometimes crucial contribution. It all comes together in a very concentrated amalgam that is difficult to break down; at first listen, the sound may seem challenging but rich in nuances and details that make this album absolutely excellent. This is particularly noticeable in the central tracks, "Captain Señor Mouse" and "Theme to The Mothership."

An important note for the title track, which serves as a highly effective opener. It captures the listener and draws them into the main part of the album. "Hymn of The Seventh Galaxy" is, in my opinion, the best album along with "Romantic Warrior" from 1976. However, it represents that decisive moment in the musical career of a group that can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can lead to a drop in musical production quality; on the other, to ultimate consecration. In the case of Return to Forever, the latter scenario will occur, aided by the arrival of Al di Meola replacing Connors, a change that will prove to be the right one.