Shape Shifter by Santana

This instrumental album is dedicated to the North American Indians and the first three tracks conjure up all the majesty, serenity and proud bearing of a decimated nation.

Carlos Santana’s guitar lets loose the spirit of the Indian brave in the title track, a fighter desperate to protect his lands, followed by a scene after the glory of battle in the composition called Dom.

It is a time for reflection, with warriors squatting round the fire.

It is a time of trance, of mesmeric drum beats that slow the quickened pulse with guitar riffs reminiscent of Gary Moore.

Nomad sees us back in the saddle, man and horse in perfect harmony galloping across the plains of the wild west.

Metratron has a patriotic, military flavour of flag waving America, while Angelica Faith recalls the first Santana track that rocked my world, Samba Pa Ti.

Never The Same Again is a chilled out number, while In The Light Of A New Day has keyboards with power. It is a melodic, nostalgic look back at love lost, with some poignant guitar.

Spark Of The Divine is bold and bright, opening for Macumba In Budapest, which has a 1960s feel, almost a James Bond theme hotting up into a Mambo beat dance number.

Mr Szabo is slightly shady and unnerving with an hypnotic underpinning. By contrast, Erez La Luz is fiery and hot, full of Flamenco guitar.

It is the only track with vocals, sung in Spanish and English by Andy Vargas and Tony Lindsay, with the soaring rock guitar encapsulating everything that is Carlos Santana.

Blues guitar is unleashed in Canula, with Carlos in Hendrix mood, collaborating with his son Salvador Santana, who plays piano. The track closes with a jazz fusion with keyboards up front.

Salvador is again taking the lead in the final track of this true triumphant guitar album. Ah, Sweet Dancer is a sombre stream of consciousness from father and son in a soulful finale.

Flicky Harrison