John McLaughlin: 'Music for Abandoned Heights'

As far as I can tell, the release date for the movie Abandoned Heights hasn’t been set yet. By all accounts, it appears to be in pre-production. But guitarist John McLaughlin’s album featuring his music for the film is out now from Impex, the audiophile label, and it’s thrilling. [Photo above of John McLaughlin at home in Monaco in April 2021 by Ina Behrend]

John, whom I interviewed for the WSJ in 2021, sounds terrific on the record, especially if you’re a fusion head and have been a fan of his over the decades. You’ll appreciate the many mood changes—from thumping rock-funk to mystical ballads.

What I’ve always loved about John’s playing is the big yawning, ringing metallic sound he gets from his guitar as well as his thundering intensity dating back to his days leading the Mahavishnu Orchestra. The multi-talented group here is John McLaughlin on guitar, Julian Siegel on saxophones, Misha Mullov-Abbado and Etienne Mbappe on bass, and Gary Husband on drums and keyboards.

I believe this is John’s second movie score, preceded by his and Trilok Gurtu’s soundtrack to the 1995 drama film Molom, conte de Mongolie, (Molom: A Legend of Mongolia), directed by Marie-Jaoul de Poncheville. He also has contributed to the films Where the Truth Lies (2005), Biker Boyz (2003) and Cartes sur table (1977) and appeared on-camera in Round Midnight (1986).

On Abandoned Heights, he seems to have had all the creative freedom in the world to invent moods for what’s on the movie screen, and the record bristles with that freedom and excitement. The fact that these moods evolve and then shift dramatically enhance the album’s hold on you.

The tracks:

• The Scene is a funk and bump opening theme with solid rock work by John.

• Malcolm Fitzgerald, which must be named for /the main character in the film, is a lumbering jazz-rock ballad.

• Curaçao Dream is a dreamy ballad with John’s guitar overdubbed twice.

• Elijah in DC has a driving groove and features Gary Husband’s Fender Rhodes and John’s guitar roaming around tastefully.

• One Step Out is a ballad that simmers with energy from Gary’s synthesizer, Julian Siegel‘s soprano sax and John’s guitar.

• DC Basketball is an uptempo track that signals intrigue and a chase.

• Christine is a love theme with lots of charm and sensitivity.

• Nathaniel Drives to New Jersey is a mid-tempo bump-and-grind funk track.

• Will & Elijah On the Train is smooth and relaxed.

• Nathaniel & Christine is a love ballad, so we can assume that these two characters wind up together in the film.

• The End says it all and the ballad likely plays while the credits roll.

I love this album. John’s songs are so beautiful and the playing is strong and sensitive. An album you can listen to over and over as you find new corners and performances to admire. What’s more, the sound is sensational thanks to the master audio engineer Bernie Grundman.

You can buy John McLaughlin’s Music for Abandoned Heights (Impex) on 180-gram vinyl here and on SACD here. For the rest of Impex’s catalog, go here.

Here’s DC Basketball…

And here’s Christine…