Feeling the Space

AMG Review of Feeling the Space

James Chrispell
All Music Guide

On Feeling the Space, Yoko Ono took complete control of her product for the first time. John Lennon only played as a side musician on one cut, with the rest of the songs ably abetted by some of New York's finest studio cats. This is a feminine record dedicated to "the sisters who died in pain and sorrow for being unable to survive in a male society." The best term to describe the music here is "angry." Ono finds no love or sweetness where the male population is concerned, and it shows. Shortly after this was released, however, Ono reconciled with John, and son Sean Lennon was born. But here, her anger comes through loud and clear. The 1997 CD reissue has two previously unreleased bonus cuts: "I Learned to Stutter/Coffin Car," a combination feminist monologue/song, and "Mildred Mildred," both of which feature John Lennon on acoustic guitar.