Sun Ra Bullock Plays the Organ Electric Vol. II (cassette)

This is the third solo keyboard album By Sun Ra Bullock, and the second with all sounds emanating from the Yamaha Electone A-55 N organ. While Sun Ra Bullock Plays the Organ Electric Vol. I focused on drones ands loops, Vol. II was meant to explore the possibilities of the onboard drum computer. Inspired by 90’s club music as well as by virtuoso solo entertainers such as Omar El Shariyi, Abdel Halim Hafez, Hany Mehana or Yichak Banjaw, first sessions were held in spring ’24 using the organ as the only sound source and a variety of FX pedals for real time treatment. These led to a dozen of long, depressing and very slow riddims. Gradually winding up the tempo wheel, more sessions resulted in over 40 sketches and basic rhythm structures, of which roughly a quarter were selected for overdubs and cleaned up for further development. In the process, new ways to make the organ behave in weird ways had opened up, which lead to new sketches, and the emergence of a more optimistic, joyful tone. Over time and a fair bit of carving out, this beast began to take shape.

As intended, it features a variety of rhythms (most prominently Rhumba, Mambo, Jazz Rock, 16 Beat and Disco) on a tempo spectrum from roughly 68 to 190 bpm, as well as two loop-based tunes that come without drums. The opening track is a tribute to Ethiopian keyboard player Yichak Banjaw whose album “Love Songs Vol. II” served as an eminent, if unreachable guiding star to this album. More credits go out to Andrea Parker and her timeless “Rocking Chair” from where the chord progressions of “Rocket Chair” were snatched. And finally “Die Raupe” is dedicated to Andrew Weatherall who passed away in 2020 after churning out some of the most influential albums and DJ sets of his time. This album is supposed to work like one of these, as a journey through different moods and vibes, held together by a warm but relentless bass, hands on studio tomfooleries, sparse but sweet harmonies and monotonous yet elegant beats. All songs were developed in the recording process, drawing from wetware sample memory. Only exception is “Rave Dub” based on a pre-existing tune by Kuzi Whan which he is too stubborn to release. It is also the harbinger of Sun Ra Bullock Plays the Organ Electric Vol. III which will be released only physically somewhen in 2026 and will be a selection of cover versions only.
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