Sun Ra & His Astro-Infinity Ark Strange Strings CD

One of the more experimental Sun Ra albums, STRANGE STRINGS features the interstellar maestro and band improvising on a selection of exotic stringed instruments, such as ukuleles and kotos, few, if any of which they've ever played before. The result is fascinating (in a good way), juxtaposing the Arkestra's more bizarre random sounds with their conventional bass, horns, piano, and percussion, and producing an otherworldly cacophony whose jagged aural texture is in constant flux.

Strange Strings is a somewhat legendary album from the mid-'60s. "Worlds Approaching" is a great tune, anchored by a bass ostinato and tympani and featuring several fantastic solos, including Marshall Allen on oboe, Robert Cummings on bass clarinet, John Gilmore on tenor, and Sun Ra on electric piano. Off and on throughout the tune, Bugs Hunter applies near-lethal doses of reverb, giving the piece a very odd but interesting sound. "Strange Strings" is one of those songs that is likely to inspire some sort of "you call that music?" comment from your grandmother, or even from open-minded friends. It sounds like they raided the local pawnshop for anything with strings on it, then passed them out to the bandmembers. It's difficult to tell if some of these instruments have been prepared in some way, or if they're simply being played by untutored hands. There are also lots of drums and some viola playing from Ronnie Boykins that is also treated heavily with reverb. Despite the cacophony, there is a definite ebb and flow to the piece and what seem like different movements or themes. Whatever you think of the music contained, there's no denying that it produced some of the most remarkable sounds of the mid-'60s. If you don't like "out," stay clear of this one. [The 2007 Atavistic edition featured two bonus tracks.] ~ Sean Westergaard

Liner Note Author: Hal Rammel.

Recording information: Experimental Sound Studio, Chicago, IL (1966-1967); New York, NY (1966-1967).

Author: Sun Ra.

Photographer: Charles Shabacon.

Arranger: Sun Ra.

Personnel: Sun Ra (strings, electric piano, drums, timpani); Sun Ra; Artie Jenkins (vocals); Ronnie Boykins (bass violin); Bob Cummins (strings, bass clarinet); Ali Harsan, Carl Nimrod, Nimrod (strings); Robert Cummins (bass clarinet); Danny Davis (alto saxophone); John Gilmore (tenor saxophone); Thlan Aldridge (background vocals); Pat Patrick (strings, flute, baritone saxophone); Marshall Allen (strings, oboe, alto saxophone); James Jacson (strings, log drum); Clifford Jarvis (timpani, percussion).

Audio Remasterer: Lou Mallozzi.

The Wire (p.53) - "Instrumental technique is largely beside the point and the music is roughly hewn. It is fascinating too, however, as Ra's experiments almost invariably are, for the way he moves blocks of sound around and the use of instrumental colour."