Sun Ra - Nidhamu + Dark Myth Equation Visitation (1972)

In 2009, Art Yard gathered together the remaining Egypt material on a CD entitled Nidhamu + Dark Myth Equation Visitation. Most of this music was previously released on impossible to find Saturn and Thoth Intergalactic LPs over the years, making this an essential companion to the magnificent Horizon CD, also on Art Yard. The CD opens with three additional tracks recorded at the Ballon Theatre on December 17, 1971: “Space Loneliness #2” begins with an unusual ensemble of saxophones, flutes, and oboe with a detuned synthesizer obbligato. The yearning, dissonantly harmonized melody and rubato drums feels conceptually similar to the Discipline series of compositions and may be a completely different piece. Ra then takes an unaccompanied solo on dual synthesizers which focuses more on pitch and rhythm than spaceship noises for a change. After moving to Rocksichord and outlining a bluesy set of changes, the ensemble returns with a lushly orchestrated coda that echoes the big-band riffing of the original “Space Loneliness.” After some polite applause, Ra introduces “Discipline 11” with a spacey organ solo until trumpet, flutes, and saxophones enter with the dirge-like composition. After some more organ chording, Marshall Allen takes a mellifluous, heavily reverb-ed solo on flute until Sonny interrupts with more scary electronic mayhem. A glorious rendition of the stately “Discipline 15” follows with John Gilmore adding his inimitable tenor sax improvisations over the top. Unfortunately, after a short percussion interlude, the track quickly fades out. Even so, it’s a wonderful performance of this rarely played composition.

“Nidhamu” is a long (thirteen minute) double-synthesizer solo recorded at an invitation-only concert at Hartmut Geerken’s house in Heliopolis on December 12, 1971. Ra again demonstrates his mastery of the then new technology, exploring the vast range of sounds available: from space age bleeps and blorps, to sweeping portamentos; pure sine waves to tsunamis of white noise -- all the while maintaining a loose internal structure built around a jittery four note figure that appears and disappears in various permutations throughout the piece. A dignitary who attended this concert invited Ra to appear on Egyptian television on December 16 (Szwed, p.293), and the next four tracks document that event, which was, sadly, not preserved in the station’s archives (Campbell & Trent, p.181). “Discipline 27” fades into Kwami Hadi’s trumpet solo while Tommy Hunter’s voice (probably dubbed later) announces the date and venue. Hadi plays nicely, as usual, supported by a swelling Arkestral accompaniment that gradually resumes the brightly riffing composition before fading out too soon. “Solar Ship Voyage” consists of a brief synthesizer solo in Ra’s rocket-ship style, punctuated with skittering runs of notes and piercing, high-pitched whines. “Cosmo Darkness” is a short group improvisation with squealing horns pitted against Ra’s rumbling electronic organ. Ra wins. “The Light Thereof” opens with an enervated organ solo before the ensemble takes up the mournful, densely arranged composition, which was apparently performed only this one time (Campbell & Trent, p.827). Another lost masterpiece! An ensemble of saxophones, flutes and trumpet improvise simultaneously while Gilmore takes the lead with a display of tenor pyrotechnics until Ra points the finger and the piece stops on a dime, eliciting enthusiastic applause from the small studio audience. Quite a display of avant garde weirdness for Third World television!

Continue reading at NuVoid's Sun Ra Sundays

188. [164]  Sun Ra and his Astro Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra

Live in Egypt Volume 1 /
Nidhamu

Thoth Intergalactic KH-1272, Live in Egypt Volume 1, was issued in 1972.  It has also been issued as Saturn 1272 and titled Dark Myth Equation Visitation and Nature's God.  There are varying covers for these releases, including a version of Nature's God with a "printed jacket incorporating a brown photo of Ra and entourage entering an Egyptian temple" (Peter Roberts).

Thoth Intergalactic 7771, Nidhamu, was issued in 1972.  It has also circulated as Saturn 7771 and Saturn 77771.  The 1972 release states erroneously that it was recorded live in Holland.  The 1974 release correctly identifies the location as Egypt, whereas the 1978 release gives no location at all.  Date and location courtesy Hartmut Geerken; personnel from Saturn jacket.  The release history is spelled out by Geerken and Hefele in their 1994 book, Omniverse Sun Ra.

According to Hartmut Geerken, the entire concert (3 1/2 hours) was taped by Tommy Hunter; it is not known whether additional material survives.  All of the band's instruments (except Ra's synthesizer) had been impounded by Egyptian customs, and consequently instruments had to be borrowed from the Egyptian Army (courtesy of Salah Ragab).  The Tiger organ was obtained locally as a substitute for Ra's Farfisa or Spacemaster.  Clifford Jarvis used Geerken's elaborate percussion set during the concert.

Tommy Hunter has claimed that some of the "live in Egypt" material was actually recorded in Copenhagen, but this may be a confusion with the live tapes from Denmark that were sold to Black Lion.  Hunter has also stated (Sun Ra Research #32) that he played alto sax during the Egyptian concerts.

(personnel list adapted from 187. [163])
Sun Ra (Tiger org); Kwame Hadi (tp, cga); Marshall Allen (as, fl, perc); Danny Davis (as, fl); Larry Northington (as, cga); John Gilmore (ts, perc, d); Pat Patrick (bars, eb); Danny Thompson (bars, fl); Eloe Omoe (bck, fl); Hakim Rahim (as, fl); Clifford Jarvis (d, perc); Tommy Hunter (d, as, announcement); Lex Humphries (d); June Tyson (voc, dance); prob. Cheryl Banks (dance, voc); prob. Wisteria el Moondew [Judith Holton] (dance, voc); Richard Wilkinson (light show).

House of Hartmut Geerken, Heliopolis,

Cairo, Egypt, December 12, 1971

189. [165]  Sun Ra and his Astro Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra

Live in Egypt Volume 1

Same personnel; Sun Ra also plays upright p, and Samir Sabri (interviewer) is added.

TV broadcast, Cairo, December 16, 1971

Nidhamu + Dark Myth Equation Visitation
Art Yard CD (2009)

1.  Space Loneliness #2   11:42
2.  Discipline #11   9:40
3.  Discipline #15   2:44
4.  Nidhamu   13:12
5.  Discipline #27   3:55
6.  Solar Ship Voyage   2:33
7.  Cosmo-Darkness   2:08
8.  The Light Thereof   5:12
9.  Friendly Galaxy #2   10:16
10. To Nature's God   9:05
11. Why Go To The Moon   2:39

FLAC

or

320

Many thanks to Free Défendu for originally posting Nature's God.