My Very First Ra record. Released on Blast First in 1989, "this compact disc comprises Sun Ra's personal selection of rare Arkestra recordings from the late 1960's, made in and around 42nd Street, New York City, Planet Earth." This was the first step in a subsequently lifelong and very fulfilling relationship with this here visionary, which may account for the high esteem in which I hold it. Then again, it could be that it's just really really good.
allmusicguide: The 13 selections on this CD by a small group taken from Sun Ra's Arkestra are generally both explorative and introspective. The combo includes tenor-saxophonist John Gilmore, altoist Marhsall Allen, baritonist Pat Patrick, an occasional trumpeter and trombonist (the personnel is not listed), Ra's organ, piano and primitive electric keyboards plus a bassist, drummer and some percussionists. The performances are mostly short sketches that set spacey moods and then fade out; Ra's piano sounds surprisingly like Thelonious Monk in spots.
The odd echo devices and spooky keyboards give this eccentric music much atmosphere. The violent ensemble number "Other Worlds" and the lengthy "Next Stop Mars" are changes of pace (sounding like the 1966 John Coltrane Quintet) while many of the other pieces would work well as soundtracks to a science fiction movie [<-- cheap dismissive reference. Q: why do people always go after science fiction when they want to make a dig? A: because it's easy to beat up on the favorite genre of people who get beat up on].
Although not essential [I beg to respectfully disagree with the arrogance of that opinion], these futuristic sounds from the past hold one's interest [i.e., this reviewer closes his analysis by hedging his bets with grudging acknowledgment that this may very well indeed be some captivating, mesmerizing, and forward-thinking shit that was way outside of it's time].
I'm obviously all red-font-befuddled by the apparent ambivalence of this reviewer. Are we listening to the same record? Messrs. Monk and Coltrane get name-checked, yet it still gets a lukewarm assessment. Sheeeesh! Simply check out "Dark Clouds With Silver Linings" -- that track alone should be enough to secure this collection godhead status.
Hear
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