Go is the first album by the supergroup Stomu Yamashta’s Go, released in 1976, and is a concept album in the truest sense of the word, fusing pop/rock sounds with jazzy colors and classical elements that are connected by a central motif of space travel. More specifically, according to journalist Robin Denselow, the whole thing deals with “change and the polarity between fantasy and reality, death and revolution and the way they alternate with each other”.

Stomu Yamashta, Steve Winwood and Michael Shrieve lead an impressive ensemble with soundscapes that are revealed from different perspectives. Perhaps it is the international cast of musicians that allows for such an uncompromising consortium of ideas that brought together former Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith member Steve Winwood, Santana founding member Michael Shrieve and their mid-70s percussionist Stomu Yamashta, the latter two of whom were key contributors to Santana’s criminally underrated 1974 album Borboletta.

Equally unsurpassed are the contributions of Return To Forever guitarist Al DiMeola, Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel organist Klaus Schulze and one-time Traffic and later CAN bassist Rosko Gee.

Each side of the original LP contains a complete suite of interconnected and continuous music. The fun yet melancholic “Crossing The Line” is reminiscent of progressive rockers like the Alan Parsons Project or the imposing Pink Floyd. Winwood’s ecstatic vocals lend an almost comforting, uncomfortable quality that fits perfectly with the austere setting, a world away from “Sea Of Joy” and “Gimmie Some Lovin’,” but also remarkably similar to “No Time To Live” from Traffic’s album Traffic. Overly emotional and highly propulsive is “Ghost Machine,” with DiMeola’s fiery playing at its best. The funky “Time Is Here” gives Winwood the perfect outlet for his R&B roots, while “Winner/Loser,” with Winwood’s unique lyrics, completes what is arguably the most accessible pop track. Journalist Robin Denselow, mentioned above, goes into great detail about how the musically disparate tracks further unify.

The plot of the work will certainly find potential fans here, with interests in games of the style of Dungeons & Dragons, Star Wars and other Brainiac-related activities, where the two cycles of songs included in the album will certainly be on their doorstep.

In 1976 the album scored high in the preferences of the world, reaching No. 60 on the Pop Album charts. In 2004, Hip-O Select made a two-CD box set that included both the album Go and the 1977 album Go Live From Paris, in a limited edition of 2,500 copies with remastered sound by Gavin Lurssen of the renowned Mastering Lab.

Through this excellent album I select “Crossing the Line”.
 
Tracklist

A.1. Solitude 2:57
A.2. Nature 2:32
A.3. Air Over 2:32
A.4. Crossing the Line 4:46
A.5. Man Of Leo 2:02
A.6. Stellar 2:53
A.7. Space Theme 3:12

B.1. Space Requiem 3:20
B.2. Space Song 2:00
B.3. Carnival 2:46
B.4. Ghost Machine 2:06
B.5. Surfspin 2:25
B.6. Time Is Here 2:46
B.7. Winner/Loser 4:10