Impulse! / RE 2024 / Lp, Reissue, Unofficial Release
Music Is the Healing Force of the Universe (1969), released on the Impulse label, was Albert Ayler’s final studio album, with all compositions written by his partner, Mary Maria Parks. Alongside The Last Album, which features outtakes from the same sessions, this marked Ayler's closing chapter before his death in November 1970. AllMusic reviewer Al Campbell describes the album as a "powerful and often ignored" entry in Ayler's catalog, presenting a prophetic exploration of guilt, confusion, sorrow, and the hope for redemption. While challenging to listen to, it offers a deep portrayal of Ayler’s inner life-and-death struggle beyond conventional jazz boundaries.