Mitchell, Joni - Hejira - LP 180 Gr.

VINILO NUEVO.

There are albums that create an unmistakable feeling. Joni Mitchell's "Hejira" (1976) is one of the rare works of art in pop music, those albums where everything fits - from the lyrics to the artwork. Probably Mitchell's most melancholic album, with its nine rather sparsely instrumented, extremely introverted songs, reflects exactly the mood that the cover on the front inspires: the endless expanse of a lonely highway, the wintry cold of a snowy field. Named after the historical flight of the Prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD, it stands for retreat, inner contemplation and the search for meaning.

It is a kind of musical road movie, created during a long trip across the states, from Maine on the east coast back to California. Joni Mitchell talks about staying in motels and fleeting acquaintances (»Coyote«, »Blue Motel Room«, »Furry Sings The Blues«, »A Strange Boy«), ponders about soul mates such as the tragically deceased pilot Amelia Earhart (»Amelia«), philosophizes about the inner conflict between the urge for freedom and roots (»Song For Sharon«, »Refuge Of The Roads«) and even an almost narcissistic search for self (»Hejira«). And somehow the album also captures the spirit of the fading flower power era, just as punk brought disillusionment into pop music.

Musically, alongside Mitchell's characteristic guitar playing, the legendary fusion bassist Jaco Pastorius impresses. With his inimitable style on the fretless bass, he provides the melodic foundation on »Coyote«, »Hejira«, »Black Crow« and »Refuge Of The Roads«. Among the eleven session musicians was lead guitarist Larry Carlton and Neil Young, who unpacked his harmonica for "Furry Sings The Blues."

What is striking is the unusual length of most of the tracks, which - as in "Song For Sharon" - reach the eight-and-a-half minute mark.

Remastered by Bernie Grundman.