If you want to play something unique and new, then Cardo Mariano is the album for you. Carlos Santana’s musical tastes have gradually changed through the years, so it’s no surprise that he finally took a step towards something totally fresh. His adventurous approach to sound creation was met with great success with the release of this album. Carlos Santana channels the raw energy of his native Dominican Republic into his songs, and manages to make them something truly memorable. If you’re interested in learning more about the inspiration behind some of the music on this album, then this article is for you.

The opening track – ‘Heroique’ starts off with a bang, with a low rumble reminiscent of reggae. The drums echo with a similar rhythm, as the lead guitar enters for the first time, accompanied by a bombastic beat. With a driving bass drum and Santana’s trademark lead guitar riffs, the track doesn’t let up until the end, when Santana peppers the mix with his usual touch of mysticism. The remainder of the song relies heavily on the repeating bass drum, but there’s also a few moments when Santana uses his normal guitar for some classic Santana solos.

This album features some guest appearances – by a few high profile musicians from different genres. First up are the three original members of Santana, who provide backing vocals on several songs. On ‘Love Is In The Air’, Santana sings lead, while Carlos Santana plays the bass. Finally, on the closing track, Carlos Santana provides an instrumental section with some classic Santana riffs. It’s rare for artists to cover multiple instruments so widely, but that’s exactly what Carlos Santana did on this album.

One other thing to take note of on this album – is Santana’s use of his classic horn-filled sound for quite a few songs, most notably on the title track. He even includes an instrumental section featuring the horns from the late seventies band, Lenny Kravitz. It’s rare for artists to use horn sections in their songs today, but Santana nails it here. He also uses a vociferous female vocalist on the title track, with the words “It’s My Time” sounding much like a prophecy. It’s one of Santana’s strongest performances on this album.

The album is not without its highlights – One of the best parts of the album is when Santana starts a drum solo before going into a longer one. There are also some great horn sections that showcase Santana’s range, as he’s played them on previous records.

All in all, this is an album well worth your time – if you love Santana and his unique brand of music. It doesn’t have the same level of popularity as the classics he’s previously released, but it’s still a great recording.

Just don’t expect it to be near the same quality as the Santana Greatest Hits Collection or the boxed versions. But if you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy it just the same.