Sun Ra & His Myth Science Arkestra

The Arkestra is at it's most beatnik friendly on this early New York recording. Starts out very spare & abstract, with a drop dead gorgeous vocal by Theda Barbara (nobody seems to know who she is, btw, though she's also credited on the Holy Modal Rounders' 'Indian War Whoop'). There's tons of bongos and other bonky percussion, with Ra's rinkytink piano even taking a percussive role. Eventually the full band arrives & the horn section out-skronks Ayler, before settling into a hi-hat workout that could've sat neatly behind some Ferlinghetti poem.