Restored to its original luminous form, this was one of Ra's great classic era releases - with a band in radically stripped-down form: John Gilmore, Michael Ray (trumpet) and the minimal but perfect Luqman Ali (drums). Ra plays piano and a lot of electronic keyboards, including the mysterious Crumar Mainman, which he describes as being 'like a piano, organ, clavichord, cello, violin and brass instruments' and which also, importantly, has a facility for pre-programmed bass-lines and electronic percussion - which Ra uses constantly and to great effect in this small ensemble setting. Very electronic, often rhythmical and melodic, always economical, these tracks are like no other jazz ensemble and, although recognisable as Ra, are also unlike any of his other ensembles. A classic