Carlos Santana will release Shape Shifter, his 36th album and first for his new label, Starfaith Records, on May 15.
The album, which features 13 tracks, is mostly instrumental; only one song features vocals by Andy Vargas and Tony Lindsay. Most of the compositions are original songs Santana has been saving for an instrumental project.
The album is dedicated to Native Americans and acknowledges Australia's 2008 apology to the Aborigines and President Obama's signing of the 2009 Native American Apology Resolution. "I encourage any and all countries (that have not as yet done so) to acknowledge the first people of their land, and make this a collective global effort," says Santana in a press release.
The album features a mid-tempo cover of Toure Kunda's "Dom"; "Never the Same Again," which Santana wrote with producer Eric Bazilian; and "In the Light of a New Day," which began as a demo brought in by Narada Michael Walden.
Pre-sale of Shape Shifter started March 27 at including iTunes, Amazon, etc. Starfaith Records is distributed and marketed in conjunction with RED Distribution.
Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.
