“Bedlam Blues” is the second single from the Red, Hot & Ra: The Magic City. Justin Hicks performs the song that he wrote after hearing Sun Ra’s poem, “The Mirror Of Things To Be.” He explained in a statement:
“Some years ago I wrote a piece of a song based on Sun Ra’s poem “The Mirror Of Things To Be”, over the years it’s been a space for me to think through and speak on the state of humans who drive the world with their bodies. Sometimes it’s hard to feel how integral we all are to every single system we live with. Yet imagining a different way or other systems can be terrifying and disorienting. “
The Meshell Ndegecello curated album brings the late Afrofuturist jazz innovator Sun Ra’s music into a modern musical world. The music is not a strict group of cover songs but compositions inspired by Sun Ra’s work which was a mix of cosmic philosophies, pageantry, and an encyclopedia of jazz styles performed by his Arkestra. Marshall Allen, the leader of the Arkestra, is on the album in addition to rapper/punk rocker Pink Siifu, bassist Rahsaan Carter, drummers Kojo Roney, Deantoni Parks, and more. Red, Hot & Ra: The Magic City hits retail on April 12th.
Red, Hot & Ra: The Magic City
1. Solipsistic Panacea (Black Antiques)
2. Departure Guide Of The 7 Sisters
3. Bedlam Blues
4. #9 Venus The Living Myth
5. El-Soul The Companion, Traveler
6. LQ1TY – 29 Years
7. Yet Differently Not- Mars Hall
8. Reproductive Manatees – Sunny Said Up!
9. The World Of Shadow
