http://www.mediafire.com/?g1iqykbmezb
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nidhamu
This is an overlooked gem drawn from the 1971 Balloon Theater (Cairo) show, with the title track recorded at the home of the esteemed Mr. Hartmut Geerken.
The Balloon Theater material is, in contrast to many of the more raucous live albums of this period, deep, dark, and intimate-sounding...even meditative. Discipline 11 and Discipline 15 both feature slow, haunting ensemble horns and reeds playing those wild intervals that saxophonist John Gilmore always cited as a reason he made the Arkestra his home.
Nidhamu is a solo excursion by Sun Ra on Minimoog and Rock-si-chord. The Moog playing is abstract, yet thoroughly informed with Ra's musicality. The Rock-si-chord electronic piano figures prominently in the second half, resembling a 'fantasia' like something from 'Night Of The Purple Moon'. This is accompanied with simultaneous left hand Moog..... it sounds like he's got both his Moogs going. I hope Mr. Geerken's guests appreciated the evening's entertainment!
Space Loneliness is, for the 3rd time in Ra's career, a masterpiece. 11 years on from the original recording, this version is prefaced by a 12 minute introduction which begins with a gorgeous horn and reed ensemble playing that impossible vein of Sun Ra music which, while highly improvisatory, might well be notated precisely as performed and stand as a legitimate concert piece. The solo synth work that follows is a bit long winded, but the listener is well-rewarded when the theme to "Space Loneliness finally kicks in: The tempo is impossibly slow, set by Ra's Rock-si-chord intro obligato. There's a languid, narcotic vapor in the ensemble rendition of the theme, while Sun Ra plays his mellow, yet against-the-rhythm accompaniment. After running thru the head twice, Ra plays one of the simplest, most eloquent solos I've ever heard in my life. The dangling silences between chords and simple staggered melodies form in themselves almost a phantom sillhouette composition. The backing horns during this solo reconfigure their harmonies dynamically in response to Ra's every piano gesture. Remarkable.
The unhurried, understated majesty of this very strange and completely unique music makes Nidhamu a favorite album of mine.
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