John McLaughlin Music for Abandoned Heights Hybrid Stereo SACD

Guitar Maestro's Spectacular 2025 Album on Hybrid SACD!
Mastered by Grammy® Winner Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering!
John McLaughlin has one of the richest artistic legacies in modern music – not only because of his unsurpassed technique, but also because of his almost limitless versatility: from the early masterpieces "Extrapolation" and "Love Devotion Surrender" (with Carlos Santana) to the genre-bending albums of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and the rousing acoustic excursions with Al Di Meola and Paco de Lucia, McLaughlin has always been looking for something new and transcendent. Now he has enriched the world of film music with a unique musical vision: "Music For Abandoned Heights" – the spectacular 2025 album of the guitar maestro, which Impex Records is now releasing for the first time as a brilliant-sounding hybrid SACD!
Compositionally, McLaughlin has infused his imagination into the film's script to create a rich blend of energetic fusion and thoughtful ballads. He describes the writing process as follows: "In my head, I interacted with the different characters and situations, waiting for my imagination to come up with themes, moods, and emotional 'colors' that reflected the drama and plot." The resulting compositions give the album a powerful beauty reminiscent of McLaughlin's electric fusion classics "Inner World" and "To the One." McLaughlin's searing and melodic guitar lines are impressively supported by the virtuoso performances of his longtime collaborators Gary Husband (drums/keyboards), Julian Siegel (saxophone), Misha Mullov-Abbado and Etienne Mbappé (bass).
"Music For Abandoned Heights" was recorded and mixed by Grammy Award winner George Murphy at Eastcote Studios, London. Chris Bellman is responsible for the remastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering. Impex's hybrid SACD comes with a deluxe booklet with studio photographs and new notes by John McLaughlin and popular music journalist Walter Kolosky.
McLaughlin's searing electric and mellifluous acoustic guitar lines are assertively supported by virtuosic performances from frequent collaborators Gary Husband (drums/keyboards), Julian Siegel (saxophone), Misha Mullov-Abbado and Etienne Mbappe (bass). These industry vets gracefully spark fire on heavier tunes like "The Scene" and introspective delicacy on the ballad "Nathaniel and Christine."
Impex Records is delighted to bring you the newest incarnation of John McLaughlin's storied career, as he continues his quest for the sublime.
"I love this album. John's songs are so beautiful and the playing is strong and sensitive. An album you can listen to over and over as you find new corners and performances to admire." - Mark Myers, Jazz Wax
"McLaughlin isn't revisiting old ground — he's still exploring, still refining, still pushing into expressive territory that feels unmistakably his. Music for Abandoned Heights stands on its own as a compact, thoughtful, and surprisingly emotional statement from an artist who continues to create with purpose." - Scott Wilson, Audiophilia

Features:

• Super Audio CD
• SACD Stereo SACD Layer
• Designed to Play on Standard CD Players, SACD Players & Other SACD-Capable Players
• Playback of DSD Tracks Requires Components That Support the DSD Format
• Full DSD encode for highest-fidelity audio reproduction on SACD players
• Hybrid CD layer plays in all Compact Disc players
• Recorded & Mixed by Grammy® Winner George Murphy at Eastcote Studios, London
• Mastered by Grammy® Winner Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering
• Deluxe Booklet with Studio Photography & New Notes by John McLaughlin and Music Journalist Walter Kolosky

Musicians:

• John McLaughlin, guitar, guitar synth, programming
• Gary Husband, drums, keyboards
• Julian Siegel, tenor & soprano saxophones
• Misha Mullov-Abbado, acoustic bass
• Etienne Mbappé, electric bass

Selections:

1. The Scene
2. Malcolm Fitzgerald
3. Curaçao Dream
4. Elijah in DC
5. One Step Out
6. DC Basketball
7. Christine
8. Nathaniel Drives To New Jersey
9. Will & Elijah On The Train
10. Nathaniel & Christine
11. The Beat Goes On
12. The End