Space is the Place or Space is the Place?

[crawjo]

Right now I think I like the Impulse version more, but I want to hear from you!

[Frisco]

The Impulse version was, for me, the classic one. Perhaps because it was the first version I heard but I always have continued to like it best.

[crawjo]

For me, "Sea of Sounds" is the best number on the Impulse version. I like the entire album, but the chanting in the title track gets a bit wearisome for me after awhile. But the "Sea of Sounds" with its discordant blending of reeds with Ra's hyper-electric playing, represents for me the Arkestra at its finest.

[Brian Olewnick]

I have the Blue Thumb LP--which disc does this match up to?

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

I have the Blue Thumb LP--which disc does this match up to?

So did I. I assume it's Impulse, since Blue Thumb is a Universal imprint.

[sashabur]

I voted for the Impulse/Blue Thumb version, because it's stronger in terms of integrity. But there were times when I would vote for the other one. After all, the two discs are so different musically. Then, one of them is a proper album and another one is a soundtrack of the movie (Which I like very much - actually, after watching the movie it's somewhat difficult for me to separate the Evidence CD from the imagery. Again, there are two versions of the movie, the original/VHS one and the director's/DVD one, but that's the topic of another possible poll). More than that, I'm certain that the two complement each other in the most peculiar way: one of the recordings exists in the world of another! Finally, I think that there is another album, stylistically placed between them, which I probably like most - it's "Discipline 27-II".

[Frisco]

Originally Posted by sashabur

Finally, I think that there is another album, stylistically placed between them, which I probably like most - it's "Discipline 27-II".

Have you heard the latest news from Neptune?
Speaking of the Arkestra's chanting, June Tyson chants this countless times throughout the Neptune piece on Discipline 27-II. But, hey, long repetitive chants is part of what the Arkestra was always about. They'd march around the halls that they performed in, chanting, audience members following, chanting along. That's the Sun Ra Arkestras just as much as any of the music.

[crawjo]

Originally Posted by sashabur

I voted for the Impulse/Blue Thumb version, because it's stronger in terms of integrity. But there were times when I would vote for the other one. After all, the two discs are so different musically. Then, one of them is a proper album and another one is a soundtrack of the movie (Which I like very much - actually, after watching the movie it's somewhat difficult for me to separate the Evidence CD from the imagery. Again, there are two versions of the movie, the original/VHS one and the director's/DVD one, but that's the topic of another possible poll). More than that, I'm certain that the two complement each other in the most peculiar way: one of the recordings exists in the world of another! Finally, I think that there is another album, stylistically placed between them, which I probably like most - it's "Discipline 27-II".

Interesting. I've never heard of "Discipline 27-II." Did that ever get released on CD?

[sashabur]

Originally Posted by Frisco

But, hey, long repetitive chants is part of what the Arkestra was always about. They'd march around the halls that they performed in, chanting, audience members following, chanting along. That's the Sun Ra Arkestras just as much as any of the music.

Exactly! And I'd like to add that these chants have aftereffect: you're
playing them back and after a while you start marching yourself and humming them along

Originally Posted by crawjo

I've never heard of "Discipline 27-II." Did that ever get released on CD?

Nope, LP only. But it was reissued not too long ago, and the copies are still being sold here and there, as well as through ebay at reasonable prices. Highly recommended!