Suche:sun ra

The planets align this October as the mighty Sun Ra Arkestra, under the direction of the maestro Marshall Allen, release their first studio album in over twenty years, 'Swirling'. Recorded at Rittenhouse Soundworks in Philadelphia, the new recording represents the continuation of a heartfelt rebirth of the Arkestra under Allen's guidance since Sun Ra left the planet in 1993, gaining new generations of followers from their regular touring across the globe. With a big band line-up featuring long-standing Arkestra members including Danny Ray Thompson (RIP), Michael Ray, Vincent Chancey, Knoel Scott, Cecil Brooks, Atakatune (RIP), Elson Nascimento and Tyler Mitchell, the album is a full-blooded celebration of Sun Ra's legacy. Tracks include brand new arrangements of Arkestra staples 'Angels And Demons At Play', 'Satellites Are Spinning', 'Door Of The Cosmos' and 'Rocket No. 9' alongside lesser known gems; the rousing blues 'Darkness' is recorded here for the first time, resurrected from the Ra archives by Marshall Allen. Other highlights include an epic version of 'Seductive Fantasy' (first recorded on Ra's 'On Jupiter' LP in 1979), the freeform sonic blast of 'Infinity / I'll Wait For You' and a first ever recording of the Marshall Allen swing composition, 'Swirling'. "We truly hope that this recording brings much joy to a planet which is so deeply in need of a spirit sound and vibration," states saxophonist Knoel Scott. "We hope it contributes to a change in the ominous direction of man's journey through the cosmos." "This new release is the Arkestra's love offering to the world," concludes Marshall Allen. "Beta music for a better world."

LTD GOLD COLOURED

The planets align this October as the mighty Sun Ra Arkestra, under the direction of the maestro Marshall Allen, release their first studio album in over twenty years, 'Swirling'. Recorded at Rittenhouse Soundworks in Philadelphia, the new recording represents the continuation of a heartfelt rebirth of the Arkestra under Allen's guidance since Sun Ra left the planet in 1993, gaining new generations of followers from their regular touring across the globe. With a big band line-up featuring long-standing Arkestra members including Danny Ray Thompson (RIP), Michael Ray, Vincent Chancey, Knoel Scott, Cecil Brooks, Atakatune (RIP), Elson Nascimento and Tyler Mitchell, the album is a full-blooded celebration of Sun Ra's legacy. Tracks include brand new arrangements of Arkestra staples 'Angels And Demons At Play', 'Satellites Are Spinning', 'Door Of The Cosmos' and 'Rocket No. 9' alongside lesser known gems; the rousing blues 'Darkness' is recorded here for the first time, resurrected from the Ra archives by Marshall Allen. Other highlights include an epic version of 'Seductive Fantasy' (first recorded on Ra's 'On Jupiter' LP in 1979), the freeform sonic blast of 'Infinity / I'll Wait For You' and a first ever recording of the Marshall Allen swing composition, 'Swirling'. "We truly hope that this recording brings much joy to a planet which is so deeply in need of a spirit sound and vibration," states saxophonist Knoel Scott. "We hope it contributes to a change in the ominous direction of man's journey through the cosmos." "This new release is the Arkestra's love offering to the world," concludes Marshall Allen. "Beta music for a better world."

Recorded with Arkestra veterans at the same NY studio that hosted countless Sun Ra sessions since the late 60s, this first ever reissue of Celestial Love contains the only known recordings of the titular track and ‘Blue Intensity,’ plus a cut not on the original Saturn LP! True studio albums of Ra with the Arkestra are rare on this planet or beyond. This studio saucer is an interplanetary interpreter, here to convert even the faintest of heart to the sounds of Sun Ra.

The vitality you hear on Antique Blacks is a testament to the unique energy of the community around The Foxhole Cafe in Philadelphia, as Ra honed his unique brand of Afro-Futurism through the late 60';s and 70's. Cosmic theatre, spiritual chants, and experimental electronics make this record an essential document that was ahead of its time. Ancient to future! BIG TIP !

The 1970s saw change in Sun Ra's recorded output, and as far as we can tell, the content of his live performances. By the middle of the decade, Sun Ra's music no longer seemed comprehensible as part of the jazz New Thing – quirkier, more idiosyncratic elements were more to the fore.

At this time, 1974, every Sun Ra record still surprised, and seemed radically different from everything else he had released up to then. The musical universe proposed by free jazz had never circumscribed Sun Ra. He had been part of the movement, but was able to use the possibilities it suggested without being limited by its conventions.

The Antique Blacks illustrates this well. Recorded as a radio broadcast in Philadelphia, according to Dale Williams, it has a well defined but oddball structure. Sun Ra was a master architect, very concerned to use the unfolding of an album, a broadcast or a live performance to create a satisfying structure.

Song No 1 starts on an upbeat note, it's a lively, tonal introduction, featuring John Gilmre on tenor saxophone, Sun Ra on roksichord, Dale Williams, then aged 15, on guitar, and Akh Tal Ebah on trumpet.

Sun Ra's poetry is featured on There Is Change In The Air, a track which has on occasion been used for the album title: in its original incarnation as a Saturn LP, there was no dedicated sleeve artwork, and this record appeared under many names. Ra's poetry is allusive, elusive and paradoxical, and this was its first major appearance on a record. During instrumental passages, Dale Williams' guitar is heard, along with the saxophones of Marshall Allen and Danny Davis.

The Antique Blacks is a similar setting for a Sun Ra poem, which encompasses "spiritual men", and Lucifer as a dark angel. The Arkestra is heard in conducted improvisational ensembles, in between the sections of the poem.

This Song Is Dedicated To Nature's God has Arkestral vocals, with John Gilmore's voice in th foreground. Williams' guitar is once again prominent in the instrumental passages.

Sun Ra's poetic declamations provide the structire for The Ridiculous I and The Cosmos Me, which also has a fine unaccompanied tenor solo by John Gilmore, keyboard improvisations by Sun Ra, and closes with bass clarient from Eloe Omoe.

Sun Ra's keyboards are heard with minimal Arkestra support on Would I For All That Were – a fine synthesiser improvisation, with electric piano left hand accompaniment.

Tension is resolved by Space Is The Place, which rounds the album out in an upbeat mood, with Akh Tal Ebah, James Jacson and Sun Ra prominent among the vocalists. The closing section includes the chant Sun Ra And His Band From Outer Space, often used at the close of live performances. This isn't strictly live, though: in one line the vocal is played backwards on tape!

This is the companion to Disco 3000, made on the same classic Italian quartet tour with John Gilmore, Michael Ray (trumpet) and the minimal but perfect Luqman Ali (drums). Ra himself plays piano and electronic keyboards, including the mysterious Crumar Mainman, which Ra describes as 'like a piano, organ, clavichord, cello, violin and brass instruments' and which also, importantly, has a facility for pre-programmed bass-lines and electronic percussion, which Ra uses constantly and to great effect in this small ensemble setting and seldom, if ever, elsewhere. The best of this collection (most of CD1) is luminous: very electronic, often rhythmical and melodic, always economical and making every sound count. These tracks are like no other jazz ensemble and, although recognisable as Ra - who else could think of, and then get away with, this - unlike any other Ra ensemble either. Ra makes the machines do amazing, visionary things while the band exercises restraint, remaining always in focus. In between, there are piano, saxophone, trumpet and drum vignettes, fresh and perfectly judged; this real was a fine band. This places the original vinyl release (and related releases, Sound Mirror and Disco 300) back into the context of the concerts, from which they were drawn. An important addition to the Sun Ra canon, since it is a rare document of an unusual Ra project that produced three classic late '70s LPs. Beautifully packaged and well annotated.

Check this serious jazz biz rework of Sun Ra's classic 'Space Is The Place' by the mighty SMBD !!

Already receiving heavy spins by Gilles Peterson and some other influential jazz cats for a while now...dancefloor jazz is back!

"The album's one of Ra's greatest from the 70s -- recorded in Italy in 1978, and featuring some incredibly otherworldly keyboards that are some of his most enigmatic on record! Original tracks from the album include "Disco 3000", an incredible workout on synthesizer, with a tiny bit of drum machine, a little "Space Is The Place" breakdown, and all of the wild sound you'd expect from a Sun Ra album -- plus more long tracks -- the sweetly soulful "Friendly Galaxy", a great soul jazz number, and "Dance Of The Cosmo Aliens", which has spooky organ, frenetic bass, and somber percussion" Check!

A mixture of live recording and studio post-production, 'On Jupiter' sounds unique to any other album Sun Ra made. The arkestra reflects a disco pulse right back on itself, and delivers one of the most cohesive albums of their career. The title track is a masterpiece of gentle atonal harmony, while 'UFO' pushes along at a cracking disco-ish pace with fierce brass and spacey dub effects. This a timeless Ra classic.

(2017 REPRESS/REMASTERED) One of the more delicate recordings of Sun Ra's 28-strong Arkestra, 'Sleeping Beauty' drifts in on a cloud of cosmic dust, sounding unlike anything before or after. With drummer Luqman Ali keeping the narcotic funk, but with dreamy solos from other key Arkestra players like John Gilmore, Michael Ray, and Marshall Allen, no Sun Ra collection is complete without this LP. Inspired space-age lullaby music. Tip!

"Oozing.. oozing soul, oozing feel, oozing the essence of rhythm and the body. This is what Elbee Bad is about. A native New Yorker who has long since transplanted himself in Berlin, Elbee Bad AKA The Prince of Dance is back on Thema Recordings with a masterclass mini album that will resonate for years to come. "Crossing Dimensions" is more than just a record, it is a philosophy on turntablism and what it means to be engaged in this culture. Sitting comfortably on the shelf next to artists like Mr. G, Moodymann, and DJ Sprinkles, Elbee recalls this genuine house feeling while adding a spice that could only be summoned out of his creative nuance. From the anthemic knowledge of "Request Monster" to the bass blistering sonnets of "Crossing Dimensions", Elbee showcases the sound of an artist who is deeply in touch with himself, the crowd, and the history of this music. No filler, no bullshit, just truth, love, and HOUSE.
Text by: Nathan Levenson"

At the summer party on the occasion of my soon-to-be 80th birthday, many friends came. As it said on the invitation: 'The Eschenau Chaos Band will play.' While the party was going on, people asked me when that band would be playing, and I replied: 'Now! You are that band', and I randomly handed out all of these instruments. Hartmut Geerken was clued in and had brought some as well - Sun Ra's Sun Harp among others. I started with a moroccan hand drum, bendir, and off it went. Unpractised." - Herman De Vries Herman de Vries, born 1931 in Alkmaar, is a Dutch visual artist who has been living in Eschenau in the Steigerwald region (Franconia, Germany) since 1970. Having started out as an Art Informel painter in the 1950s, his interests shifted in the ensuing years, and in the 1970s, he became focused on found objects from nature and their rtistic-philosophical qualities and implications. He has made paintings, collages, texts, sculptures, installations, a.o., and has dealt with plants, earth, and other parts of nature from botanical, medical, historical, as well as psychedelic viewpoints.Recording made on June 18, 2011, in Eschenau. Edition of 300 with liner notes by Herman de Vries and photos of the event on the back sleeve.

The anonymous Only Music Matters crew serve up another EP of smoking sounds for discerning crowds. It's the smart sampling of a classic motif from jazz-house great Saint Germain that makes the opener 'AAA001A' so enchanting as a bluesy vocal drifts in and out of a dry, dubby, minimal tech beat. 'BBB001B' is more driving and gritty, a clipped tech cut to keep things moving in the dead of night, then 'BBB002B' brings another supple groove, this time with rays of synth rising out of the mix like the morning sun. Quirky sound designs and a skipping rhythm make it irresistible.

All Day I Dream offers a soft and serene close to a snowy season with A Winter Sampler VII, a 12-track compilation out now. Continuing the label’s tradition of seasonal collections, the latest installment gathers a global cast of artists whose productions capture the reflective calm and subtle warmth that arrives as winter begins to thaw.

After months of careful excavation and meticulous restoration, dj echotree finds his way to ZitStill with a singular artefact. Delving into lost remnants of the spirit world, a gapless collage of found footage, spoken word and otherworldly jazz slowly emerged. A mute yet eloquent testimony, held together by instinct and the steady pulse of the MPC.

Much remains to be uncovered about this entity and its teachings, rooted in beliefs that left no written trace. What is known is its devotion to the human touch, unafraid of imperfection. A form of worship rich in texture, best experienced on hazy afternoons and mist-laden mornings.

Dive into the depths of the SUNKEN SCORES which is the new concept album by Japanese Rare Groove trio Nautilus from Toyko. What is called lost themes and jazzy seaquences from the cinematic coastlines ends in a journey through different eras of film and television music.
It's their fourth album release on Oonops Drops besides several limited 7inch releases. Like all other releases on the label, this LP is also pressed on recycled vinyl . There will be an extended Germany tour by Nautilus from 8th May to 4th June from the North Sea Coast to the mountains in the Allgäu. / Promo: feature in Jazzthing magazine at the end of May.

G.A.M.O. (Gods Against Man's Oppression) recounts events leading to Napoleon Da Legend transformation after being bestowed a metal helmet, which is a weapon against our modern dystopia. The album features a blend of soulful and dystopic grit featuring the likes of Vinnie Paz, Goretex, General Steele, Skyzoo, Passport Rav, Nejma Nefertiti, Innocent?, SKAM2?, Eloh Kush, CF, Dontique and more. It has production from Dub Sonata, Maitre D, Homage Beats, Passport Rav Proffeny and Napoleon Da Legend. The result is 23 tracks that blend retro-sci fi "Noir Wave" and modern Boom Bap. It features an exclusive 2 page comic illustrated by UK's Dan Lish. Limited to 300 copies only.

This perfectly formed EP brings together Dutch duo Fouk with a selection of collaborators across four groove-led cuts blending house, disco, and nu-disco influences.

The title track sees Fouk teaming up with The Phenomenal Handclap Band, delivering a vibrant vocal cut driven by warm basslines, uplifting melodies, and classic disco instrumentation. Importantly, both the vocal and instrumental versions appear here as extended mixes exclusive to the vinyl release.

Further collaborations with Archil & Leon and 79.5 continue the EP’s groove-heavy approach, combining soulful vocals, live instrumentation, and dancefloor-ready arrangements.

Already receiving strong support across radio, DJs, and streaming platforms, including plays from Bill Brewster (NTS Radio), Colleen Cosmo Murphy, Dom Servini, Francois K, Graeme Park, Hot Toddy, Massimiliano Pagliara, Pete Herbert, Slothboogie, Tim Zawada / Star Creature Universal Vibrations, Dave Pezzner, Nadiem Shah, Luxxury, Dj Supermarkt, Luke Solomon, Seamus Haji, Sophie Lloyd, J-Kriv, DJ Rocca, Faze Action.

The release has also landed #1 placements on Spotify’s Nu Disco editorial playlist.

With warm grooves, uplifting vocals and strong crossover appeal between disco, house and nu-disco scenes, this EP offers high playability for DJs and strong appeal for modern disco and house collectors.

Dr. Silberman makes a welcome return to Atom Trance Force and kicks things off in 2026 with his EP 'Welcome To The Future'. Two mixes of the title track are included: The fast paced original and the trance mix. The original is a serious ode to the late 90s Hamburg hard trance sound, and you can hear the influence of labels like EDM, Tunnel & Spaceflower. For the trance mix, he brings the tempo back down to 140 and moves more towards older Positiva energy. Rounding off the EP is Friends & Enemies, keeping the energy high but the quality to match.

From Atom - we thank you for your continued trust, and bigups to those supporting this release:

1995 Trance Sessions, Adam (Last Of The Mohicans) Apple FM, Adam Bellew Global Hard House Radio, Angie (FR), Busho, Choci, Digital Devil, Dimitri Kechagias, DJ Brisk [Stimulant DJs], DJs Present, Evolving Suns Audio [Cohesion / The Attic], Giuseppe Ottaviani, J.O.E [Tomorrows World], Jake Ayres, Jake Grace [TranceUnite / FCM Live], Jake Nicholls [Uprising], Loki [Terminal Trax], Louk / Hidden Identity, Mat Phat & Fugee Show [Newport City Radio], Mind Control [Noise Pollution], Mindflux, Paul Nineham [Brisk], Pete Morton [Harderfaster], Remnis, Renegade System, Rennz [Distorted Dreams], Rightsound [Dancesation / Timewarp], Rocco Jonsson [Collide / The Carnival Sweden], Spaceman [Tuned Flow], Spektral Noise, Suzy Solar, Tjerk Coers