If was 's masterpiece of the '60s, then is its equivalent for the '70s. But where set global influences in a framework, 's core sound is substantially different, wedding Indian, African, and Arabic music to ' electrified innovations. And although purists will likely react here the same way they did to post- , is a stunning success by any other standard. By turns hypnotic and exhilarating, the record sounds utterly otherworldly: the polyrhythmic grooves are deep and driving, the soloing spiritual and free, and the plentiful recording effects trippy and mysterious. The various ethnic influences lift the album's already mystical atmosphere to a whole new plane, plus adds mostly non-English vocals on three of the four tracks, whispering cryptic incantations that make the pieces resemble rituals of some alien shaman. The title cut has since become an /rare-groove classic, filtering 's acoustic bass through a wah-wah pedal and melding it with electric piano riffs, electric bongos, wordless female vocals, short snippets of tenor saxophonist screeching, and, of course, 's whispers and trumpet. Closer works a similarly mind-bending mixture, but the middle two pieces ( and ) are lengthy explorations where 's languid trumpet solos echo off into infinity. Of all his efforts, is the most accessible entry point into 's borderless ideal, jelling into a personal, unique, and seamless vision that's at once primitive and futuristic in the best possible senses of both words. While would record a great deal of fine work in the years to come, he would never quite reach this level of wild invention again. [ 's original title was , which was changed a year after its initial 1975 release.] ~ Steve Huey