Album Favorites: Mahavishnu Orchestra – Birds Of Fire

I’ve been a progressive rock fan for years, and the great thing about this kind of music is that it takes on a richer meaning each time you listen to it. It’s fun to dig into deeper layers of tracks you think you’d be bored of after a while.

One such album I’ve always liked is Birds Of Fire by Mahavishnu Orchestra. Mahavishnu Orchestra was a band whose music could be categorized as something between progressive rock and jazz. Founded by guitarist John McLaughlin in 1971, it was an important pioneer in jazz fusion. It has since inspired modern bands like Opeth and Cynic. The band dissolved two years later and reunited several years afterward with a different lineup. However, the first stint was their prime. They rolled out two intense albums during this time- The Inner Mounting Flame and Birds Of Fire.

Birds Of Fire(1973) is a powerful journey for a listener to embark on. It features guitarist John McLaughlin, bassist Rick Laird, keyboardist Jan Hammer, violinist Jerry Goodman, and drummer Billy Cobham. Being jazz, the music is more stream of consciousness than structured but doesn’t meander too much.

I like how fierce the first track, Birds of Fire, is. The simmering rage in McLaughlin’s guitar lead reaches a boiling point towards the end of the song. It’s empowering, spiritual, aggressive, and frightening all at the same time. This segues into a playful piece, Miles Beyond, which was written for McLaughlin’s friend Miles Davis. There are low-key tracks too, like Open Country Joy and Sanctuary. The violins take center stage in Miles Beyond and Hope.

One of the most noteworthy features of the album is drummer Billy Cobham’s proficiency. He blows your mind on every track. There is a fun drum solo in One Word that transitions to a great ending.

Overall, the album is a surreal experience. It keeps you gripped to your seat the whole time. For all its noodling around, it isn’t self-indulgent either. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys instrumental music.