Outer Space

Following their debut on Dissident in 2008, great things have been expected from Italo revivalists Den Haan. Gods From Outer Space, their debut long player, certainly delivers on that early promise. Packed to the rafters with hard analogue synthesizer grooves, retro-futurist melodies, dark dancefloor thrills and spiraling, John Carpenter-ish atmospherics, it's a veritable romp through delightfully authentic Italo, Hi-NRG, Eurodisco and New Wave pastures. In true Eurodisco style, there are some hilariously camp low-range vocals (see "Russian Boat Commander" and "Release The Beast") and plenty of fist-pumping, Moroder-ish basslines. It may be inspired by musical nostalgia, but Gods From Outer Space is a contemporary delight.

Sun Ra & His Arkestra - Love In Outer Space (1983) {Leo Records ‎CDLR154 rel 1988}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 330 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 132 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 24 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1983, 1988 Leo Records ‎| CD LR 154
Jazz / Experimental Big Band / Avant-Garde Jazz / Cosmic Jazz / Progressive Jazz

Another good live date courtesy of Leo Records, this one from December of 1983. This release is notable for both the fairly straight-ahead program and the fact that Sunny plays LOTS of piano as opposed to his synthesizers. In fact, there are no synthesizers heard until the "Love in Outer Space/Space Is the Place" medley, which is the last track. "Blues Ra" is a special treat; nearly five minutes of Ra playing a straight 12-bar blues on piano, accompanied by only a drummer and a bass player (who is slightly buried in the mix). Sound quality is quite good, and the band is in their usual fine form. As with the rest of the Sun Ra releases on Leo, it's probably not the place to start, but well worth owning if you've already been bitten by the Sun Ra bug.