Interstellar Space is a special brand of album, from the moment the first track starts it is clear that this is an unusual album both within style and instrumentation. The album is perhaps the greatest example of the versatility of John Coltrane and, is exemplary of the complexity of sound found within Coltrane’s works. However, even for Coltrane this album is very abstract and eccentric of sound. When I first listened to it I was shocked (in a good way) in what I heard and I was surprised that this album hasn’t received the attention many of Coltrane’s other great albums have received. Whether it is complexity of the sound, perhaps the abstract nature or just a lack of word of mouth that prevents the album from reaching a wide spread fame even among jazz listener, this doesn’t matter it still is a amazing and most hear album.
What really makes this album unique is it’s stylistic approach and the complexity of the music. The style of this album has an enormous effect on it’s sounds, because it is of the Free Jazz genera, determining that it will have loose and free sound. The music is shaped to have a clear beginning and ending, however the rest of the music has no clearly defined themes and relies on the expressiveness of Coltrane and the drummer Rashied Ali. The best way really to describe the style of this music is that it is a mix of the Free Jazz style employed in albums from musicians like Ornette Coleman, along with the sound of John Coltrane’s later period of music that is found in albums like A Love Supreme. This mixture really separates the album from even other Coltrane albums of it’s era.
The instrumentation within the album is a special blend of Tibetan bells, drums and Tenor sax. Usually the songs start with a introduction (and sometime ending) with the chiming of these bells, which have meditative sound and set up the mood for the songs. The primary role in the songs comes from Coltrane’s saxophone which sets the mood, however doesn’t seem to emphasize any sort of defined chord changes. Coltrane sax is pushed to it’s fullest degree of sound variety in this album, while still creating a clear form.Rashied Ali’s drum sound acts very differently from that of the typically drummer, although he keeps time and sets up the mood of the piece, his main purpose is to express the feelings in the piece. His drumming creates a powerful background and many times even acts like a horn player, helping to set the expression of the music and, allowing Coltrane the ability to take the music where he wants to. Without it’s unusual use of instruments, Interstellar Space would be unable to express it’s emotional and powerful sound so clearly.
The shaping of the music is incredible, even without the use of defined chords or a clear theme Coltrane is able pull the listener into the music. This is due to the complexity and sophistication of Coltrane’s improvisatory ability, which makes this concept of the album possible. In fact Coltrane is so expressive with this music that he can reference themes from other songs into certain piece. This is definitely music, however that requires the listeners entire and undivided attention due to it’s abstract and complex nature. This is one of Coltrane’s most complex and expressive albums I have ever heard and is definitely classic, at the level of other great Coltrane albums like Giant Steps and A Love Supreme.
Interstellar Space uses it’s unusual blend of instrument’s to create a eccentric and spiritual quality of sound, through the use of the Free Jazz medium. I’m still puzzled as to why I never heard of this album till I found it in my college library by pure chance. It is a truly amazing album and most hear for Coltrane or Free Jazz fans or just jazz fans in general. This may not the sort of music for someone who wants to hear high melodic music, however due to it’s quality it might be worth listening even for people who fit into this category. Even if your not typically aren’t a fan of Free Jazz or Coltrane I’d suggest listening to this album and giving it a chance, if you are fan buy this album now!
