Space Is The Place
Sun Ra was a musician who led the way for greater celestial appreciation and awe. Even before humanity stumbled across actively dosing themselves with plants, religion, illusion of power or sex (for fun, not procreation), looking skyward produced feelings ranging from feeling small & insignificant to inspired & marveled. Sun Ra leans into the wow feelings, rejecting the bummer vibe. The music on this album ranges from the frenetic to the meditative. Hard to categorize, Space Is The Place often ends up lumped into the jazz section of a record store, but this a complete misnomer. The blazing creative energy and hard to pin down sound is overwhelming chaos with some sublime chaser and don’t forget the chanting! Think of it as a joint with a tiny bit of hash inside. You’ll get results which are both familiar and unexpected. Much thanks to Sonic Youth for playing with this genius years ago in Central Park and turning a much younger me on to this innovator. Pro tip for listeners: make it a vinyl journey and don’t forget the cannabis