Cosmic Myth US Vinyl & CDs

Review: Even by Sun Ra's eccentric and deeply psychedelic standards, Strange Strings is an outlier. Eventually released in 19657 but mostly recorded in New York in 1965, it was the result of Sun Ra turning up at the studio with a vast number of string instruments and asking his 'Arkestra' - none of whom knew how to play them - to make some noises. In true fashion, the results are spectacularly experimental - think freeform experimental jazz, created via a cacophony of improvisation, with added intergalactic intent. This lightly expanded, remastered edition contains original mono versions of the album tracks, a rare stereo mix of 'Crystal Spheres (Amongst Worlds)', a recently rediscovered concert recording ('Untitled St Peter'), and a snippet of Sun Ra being interviewed while the Arkestra plays around with strings in the background.