The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Books + Movies
  • Scene Unseen
  • About
  • MORE
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Books + Movies
  • Scene Unseen
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • TOTD
    • Books + Movies
    • Scene Unseen
    • About
Album Reviews
659
Editor Pick
previous article
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: THE NORTHERN PIKES @ BLUE FROG STUDIOS, WHITE ROCK (BC)
next article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE NORTHERN PIKES - FOREST OF LOVE

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SANTANA – AFRICA SPEAKS

Santana

Santana
Africa Speaks
UMusic

Returning with his first album since 2016’s Santana IV, guitar innovator, virtuoso, and legend Carolos Santana has released Africa Speaks. Produced by Rick Rubin, the 11-track album – released ahead of his summer Supernatural Now tour and his on-and-off residency at Las Vegas’ The House Of Blues – marks Santana’s 25th record of original material. This feat is only surpassed when considering the sonic quality of Africa Speaks, a collection of music that only continues to enhance the name and reputation of Santana, while continuing to push any and all musical limitations.

Upon the opening of title track “Africa Speaks,” one hears a blend of rhythmic percussion, spoken word from Santana himself, wailing guitar, and raspy vocals sung in Spanish in unison with the distinctive, one-of-a-kind guitar tone. In this moment, the listener is transcended: music becomes your religion; Santana, the pastor; and Africa Speaks, today’s sermon. As the band seemingly warms up for three minutes, the song truly kicks in with a guitar solo set over Latin and African rhythms and continues to grow from its grand opening. While the way that the opening track grabs the listener could be endlessly discussed, the album continues to roll forward.

A musical marvel, Santana blends elements of rock, jazz, the blues, Latin, funk, and pop music together in a seamless fashion… just as he has always done. “Batonga” stands as a Latin rock odyssey rich with a deep sense of melodicism along with a series of solos, ranging from percussion and organ to Santana’s ever-present lead guitar lines. His riffs seem to run with a sense of abandon underneath the whole song without managing to step on anyone else’s toes. Quite contrastingly, “Yo Me Lo Merezco” stands as a strong, slow-burning pop ballad while “Breaking Down the Door” has a quality to it which sounds as if it was pulled straight from a Latin standards book.

Santana’s ability to push the stylistic boundaries through his compositions is only rivalled by his incredibly unique voice as a guitarist. He weaves together chords, rhythm, and lead lines with jaw-dropping solos… all the while delivering some of the nicest tones you’ll ever hear. It must also be noted that he leads one of the – if not the – tightest ensembles to be heard on record in quite some time.

Still reeling from the opening track, I realize my room has gone quiet. The album has come to a close, and while I am unsure as to how long I have been sitting here since the final notes of “Candombe Cumbele” have rung, a feeling of transcendence sits with me. Africa Speaks is a true masterpiece – something that Santana, even well over fifty years into his career, seems to turn out effortlessly.



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016

Editor Pick
Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SANTANA – AFRICA SPEAKS

Author

Gerrod Harris

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
9.3
10
Total Spill Rating
9.3
Total Fan Rating
3 ratings
You have rated this
Album Reviews
africa speaksalbum reviewalbum reviewsbreaking down the doorbuikacarlos santanasantanaumusic
africa speaks, album review, album reviews, breaking down the door, buika, carlos santana, santana, umusic
About the Author
Gerrod Harris
Gerrod Harris
A passion for music has always been a part of Gerrod’s life. As a young boy, he was raised on a steady diet of the music from The Chili Peppers, Aerosmith, The Stones, Prince, and others from his mum. Raised in the GTA, Gerrod continued to foster his love for music by attending a wide range of concerts and learning the drums. His unapologetic passion for music has no bounds and has spread to a wide variety of styles, whether it be the 90’s rock that sound tracked his teenage years, the jazz he studied in university, or his newfound love for hip-hop. He recently received his bachelors in music and education from York University and is passionate about writing and reviewing good (and less than good) music. Gerrod is also the drummer and songwriter for a Toronto based rock & roll band, One In The Chamber.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewalbum reviewscarlos santana
 
8.0
Lydia Luce

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LYDIA LUCE – DARK RIVER

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on February 26, 2021
Lydia Luce Dark River Independent Nashville is changing. No, it isn’t the quality of musicianship. Whether you like it or not, the Nashville sound is one of the best around. It is the [...]
 
9.0
Strawbs
8.2

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STRAWBS – SETTLEMENT

by Aaron Badgley on February 26, 2021
Strawbs Settlement Cherry Red Records The Strawbs released their self-titled debut in 1969, their first official album. This is their 27th release, and their second with this particular lineup. [...]
 
8.0
Sloping

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SLOPING – COMPLETED SONGS

by Dan Kennard on February 26, 2021
Sloping Completed Songs sound as language Lead songwriter of the band Scooterbabe, JJ Posway, has released a debut solo album under the name Sloping. It is called Completed Songs, and it [...]
 
10
cEvin Key
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: cEvin Key AND THE SUBCONSCIOUS ELECTRONIC ORCHESTRA – RESONANCE

by Kathy Nichols on February 19, 2021
cEvin Key And The Subconscious Electronic Orchestra Resonance Artoffact cEvin Key’s fifth solo album, Resonance (formerly [...]
 
8.0
Creedence Clearwater Revival

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – PENDULUM/MARDI GRAS (50TH ANNIVERSARY HALF-SPEED MASTERS)

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on February 12, 2021
Creedence Clearwater Revival Pendulum/Mardi Gras (50th Anniversary Half-Speed Masters) Craft Recordings Creedence Clearwater [...]
Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LYDIA LUCE – DARK RIVER
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STRAWBS – SETTLEMENT
9.0
8.2
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SLOPING – COMPLETED SONGS
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: cEvin Key AND THE SUBCONSCIOUS ELECTRONIC ORCHE...
10
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – PENDULUM/M...
8.0
Latest Live Reviews
View All
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 2 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on February 18, 2021
74
 
Small Town Titans

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: SMALL TOWN TITANS @ SMT HQ, YORK (PA)

by Gerrod Harris on February 6, 2021
33
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 1 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on January 7, 2021
392
 
Wardruna

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: WARDRUNA – ‘KVITRAVN’ PRESENTATION (ONLINE PERFORMANCE)

by Samantha Wu on December 10, 2020
196
 
Evanescence

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: EVANESCENCE @ ROCK FALCON STUDIO, NASHVILLE (TN)

by Melinda Welsh on December 5, 2020
61
Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2020 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY – MECHANICAL SOUL
673
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III
578
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GUIDED BY VOICES – STYLES WE PAID FOR
557
 
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: CHURCH OF TREES FEAT. CAROLE POPE – “WORLD’S A BITCH”
462
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 1 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)
392
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK PISTOL FIRE – LOOK ALIVE
366
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS – LIVE IN BOSTON, 1982: THE COMPLETE CONCERT
350
 
SPILL NEW MUSIC: “SHAMELESS” STAR WILLIAM H. MACY RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE “WHISKEY DELL” UNDER “WILLIE CREEKS” MONIKER
329
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DIRTY NIL – FUCK ART
282
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CHRIS CORNELL – NO ONE SINGS LIKE YOU ANYMORE
277
 
SPILL FEATURE: TRULY ORCHESTRATING HIS OWN LIFE – A CONVERSATION WITH RICK SPRINGFIELD
274
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRIEVOUS ANGELS – SUMMER BEFORE THE STORM
269
 
SPILL FEATURE: HIS STORY RIGHT NOW – A CONVERSATION WITH cEvin Key
261
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES