In the late '50s, Sun Ra emerged from big band to modern/progressive big band status, began to employ electronics, and used a more Afro-Centric percussive focus. This recording perfecly demonstrates those qualities, and more. There are several definitive themes from The Arkestra included, such as "Plutonian Nights," "Nubia," "Africa," "Watusa" and "Aethiopia." Dig for this one on vinyl from the Impulse LP reissue if you can (the cover art is stunning,) but it is nigh impossible to find on Saturn Research. The tracks were recorded in rehearsal, Chicago, either 1958 or 1959."The Nubians of Plutonia... evidence an Arkestra moving into ever looser, more abstract ground. The percussion becomes more varied and moves ever closer to the foreground. 'The Golden Lady' seduces with a swaying groove created by a combination of simple parts: hi-hat, cow bell, wood blocks, rolling floor toms and bass. Ra then sets up a dark melodic theme, and then the Arkestra proceeds to weave a series of jaunty, blues-tinged solos into the fabric of the groove. 'Nubia', 'Africa' and 'Aiethopia' continue this excursion into more mystical, rhythm-based territory. The Arkestra utilizes the same ominous, simmering percussion beds, now augmented by more exotic instruments like Pat Patrick's 'space lute', which gives a playfully sinister sound to 'Africa'.... This powerful, multi-faceted music is a great place to start if you are just beginning to travel with Sun Ra, or a great way to continue the journey." - Mathew Wuethrich
Tracklist:
| Plutonian Nights | 4:20 |
| The Lady With The Golden Stockings (The Golden Lady) | 7:44 |
| Star Time | 4:17 |
| Nubia | 8:12 |
| Africa | 5:06 |
| Watusa | 2:33 |
| Aiethopia | 7:13 |
Sun Ra - The Nubians Of Plutonia (1967)
(320 kbps, cover art included)
6 Kommentare:
Thank you.
You are welcome, Steffen!
Thank you for the recent focus on jazz and, too, for frequently posting Sun Ra, Masekela, and Makeba. Your taste in music covers the waterfront, from classical through a wide variety of genres that include klezmer and Roma music, the Last Poets, the Fugs, Brecht, Weill, Wolf Biermann, the Chambers Brothers, Sun Ra, the Toms (Rush, Paxton, Liwa, Robinson, and Rapp), Marianne Faithfull, Ewan MacColl, Hopkins, Hurt, and Lipscomb, and so many other stalwarts and prominent souls in my own haphazard, but broad, collection. Consequently, each visit here is like walking into a very affordable music store designed to suit my taste. Perhaps a few others feel the same about what amounts to clearly fortuitous luck rather than deliberate design, but I and undoubtedly many others always benefit from your eclectic taste and dedication.
Add to the mix the political sentiments expressed in the music of Scott-Heron, Odeta, Simone, Sainte Marie, Guthrie, Utah Phillips, Ochs, and others, and this blog now stands alone in its adroit mixture of politics and music. During the last decade the only other music blog that I could find with a similar consistently progressive outlook was that of the Red Hippie in its various incarnations. Regrettably after several run-ins with and shut-downs by the invisible, sanctimonious overlords of Google blogdom, he cashed in his chips.
Many thanks for keeping on keeping on especially at this time in the political history of my country. The music posted here is often beautiful, eloquent, and, in the case of the music composed or performed by interned prisoners, who were soon to be victims of the European Holocaust, profoundly moving. It always evokes joy and deep appreciation yet, as evident in the folk singers, poetry, drama, and occasional reflections you post, also provokes reflection and affirmation or pensive review of one's own convictions.
I hope you never grow weary of maintaining this blog. It is often a source of hope in a social medium which is too often exploited for anonymous confrontation, bombast, bigotry, and dehumanization, especially of women and those who are regarded as different in race, religion, gender, political views, etc. from the majority.
Better yet, visiting here is like visiting a favorite out-of-the-way coffee shop in which one can relax, think the most minor or the great thoughts, and listen to great music. On this Sunday morning it is a great place to visit after one has learned in a brief period about the passing of Daniel Berrigan, an articulate and persistent advocate for peace, compassion, and humanity, and Muhammed Ali, an adept, entertaining, and artistic practitioner of a violent profession who also advocated for peace and reinforced the lesson that one person can, in fact, make a significant difference in how we view and think about ourselves and the world. To borrow from Hemingway, this blog is "a clean, well- lighted place", which I hope remains open at all hours for a long time.
Thanks for this wonderful feedback and all the best to you! Now there´s a fresh link...
Timeless. This is one of those few examples where I like the reissue cover (this one) over the original. Thank you!
You are always welcome!
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