Floating Point

Additional Floating Point Information

For Floating Point, which was recorded in India, McLaughlin used several of the best Indian musicians in the world. McLaughlin calls these players the 'young lions' of India. They include keyboardist Loiuz Banks, drummer Ranjit Barot, electric sitarist Niladri Kumar, flautists Shashank and Naveen Kumar, percussionist Sivamani, vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, electric mandolinist U.Rajesh, and Hindustini slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya. Joining them were other Western stars, saxophonist George Brooks and bassist Hadrien Feraud. With a line-up like that, you would expect a very Indian experience. But, McLaughlin says not necessarily so.

'Now while this CD features predominantly Indian musicians, we are in quite another form compared to the group Shakti,' McLaughlin says. 'The music is for the most part 'Jazz-Fusion' if a label has to be put on it. But with the musicians involved in this project, it has also a 'world' kind of atmosphere.'

McLaughlin adds, 'I really am happy with the outcome of this CD which actually came about quite spontaneously and without any real planning. You can hear in the music where I am in my development, and in which directions I'm moving. It was a real thrill to play with these players, and I offer my thanks to them for their unique contributions. I truly wish and hope that it brings something to the listeners. I also offer my deep thanks to them for their continued support to my dedicated work.'

What Customers Say About Floating Point:

It's truly amazing, like seeing him live. In this context, it will change your perspective of this project whether you're a fan or not. I'm a hardcore JM fan. I recommend listening to this CD AFTER watching the "making of" DVD "Meeting of the Minds".

He almost never gives the sense of reaching, or taking chances, or of just getting carried away by the feeling. McLaughlin's technique has always been exceptional, but he used to use it to reach as high as he could, pushing the envelope of what was possible. And the guitar synthesizer only makes this effect more pronounced. There are places on this CD where things do heat up, and the band throughout plays with real energy, particularly the drummers. Every edge, every trace of timbre is removed, which also removes any edge or rhythmic propulsion from the playing. I suppose it's unfair to constantly expect John McLaughlin to reprise the fire of his first Mahavishnu album, but I do, and he constantly lets me down.

His playing feels like he's reading it off a chart--while he's reading the newspaper. Now, unfortunately, he has perfected his technique, and he uses to pursue perfection. I bought this CD because I hoped that the Indian musicians involved would spur him to some of his old youthful passion. A guitar is played with steel strings and a plectrum for a reason--its percussiveness gives the music a jump factor--and an electric guitar should sound electric, with the meat and rich timbre of an overdriven speaker. If only McLaughlin played with the fire of his sidemen, we'd have a recording worth reckoning with. Well, the Indian musicians certainly play with verve here, but McLaughlin mostly phones his performance in.

McLaughlin chooses sounds from the synthesizer that are flutelike, but without even the attack of a real flute.

This is a gem among my almost 1,000 CD's in my collection. This CD and DVD has affected my direction in music.

McLaughlin--he creates and improvises effortlessly and is truly a Master of Masters in music. Bravo to Mr.

I would recommend this CD very highly and it is nominated for a Grammy. The DVD is incredible and you get to see the Indian instruments and incredible musicians who were selected by John McLaughlin.

Good luck with the Grammy nomination--I can't see how it could not win. I am a professional saxophonist and jazz instructor and own and have studied hundreds of recordings.

You will appreciate the different sounds you hear on this CD much more (I certainly did) if you buy watch the available DVD on the making of Floating Point.

nomore intellectual thoughts.Go on Johnny. This album is even better than the previous "Industrial Zen". quite some fantasy and listenability is improved.

Hated the plastic sound of this production. Nothing to do with 'Extrapolation', Mahavishnu, Old Shakti or even some of his more jazz oriented work of the 80s and 90s. Buy at your own risk. One of the things i'll never understand is how John got so far away from the path he himself created to follow this 'empty' one. This continues his trend of hollow passionless works of late.