By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – Berlin, the global electronic music community is preparing for a monumental convergence of jazz history and modern synthesis with the announcement of When There Is No Sun. Curated by the visionary minimal techno pioneer Ricardo Villalobos, this expansive recording project serves as a bridge between the cosmic jazz legacy of Sun Ra and the cutting-edge landscapes of contemporary electronic production. Scheduled for release on March 27th via the Omni Sound imprint, the compilation is being described as more than just a remix album; it is a global reimagining of a philosophy that has influenced avant-garde art for over half a century. By enlisting a prestigious roster of talent including Detroit’s Underground Resistance, UK legend A Guy Called Gerald, and house music veteran Chez Damier, Villalobos has assembled a sonic tapestry that honors the past while hurtling toward an Afrofuturist future.
The project draws its foundational material from two distinct but interconnected pillars of the Sun Ra discography. The first is Living Sky, an instrumental masterpiece by the Sun Ra Arkestra that captured the ensemble’s enduring ability to channel celestial energies into structured, yet fluid, jazz compositions. The second source is the deeply personal spoken-word album Words Are My Music, which showcases Sun Ra’s poetic philosophy and his unique perspective on the human condition and the cosmos. By blending these two elements, the contributors to When There Is No Sun are tasked with a complex mission: to maintain the spiritual integrity of Sun Ra’s voice and the Arkestra’s instrumentation while translating those frequencies for the modern dancefloor and the home listener alike.
Sun Ra, born Herman Blount, remains one of the most enigmatic and influential figures in 20th-century music. His claim that he was from Saturn was not merely a theatrical gimmick but a core component of a philosophical framework designed to liberate the Black experience from the terrestrial constraints of systemic oppression and historical trauma. Through the Sun Ra Arkestra, he developed a sound that moved from swing and bebop into free jazz, early electronic experimentation, and beyond. His work pioneered the concept of Afrofuturism—a cultural aesthetic that combines elements of science fiction, historical fiction, Afrocentricity, and magic realism to critique the present-day dilemmas of people of color and to interrogate and re-examine historical events. When There Is No Sun seeks to extend this legacy into the digital age, proving that Sun Ra’s "prisons of the mind" can still be dismantled through the power of sound.
The curation of the album reflects a deep understanding of the electronic music spectrum. Ricardo Villalobos, known for his sprawling, hypnotic sets and intricate rhythmic structures, is a natural fit for this project. Villalobos has long been a proponent of the idea that music should be a journey rather than a destination, a sentiment that mirrors the Arkestra’s long-form improvisations. Joining him is the legendary Detroit collective Underground Resistance (UR). UR has always shared a spiritual kinship with Sun Ra; their "High-Tech Funk" was born from the same desire for liberation and self-determination that fueled the Arkestra. Their contribution to the compilation is expected to bring a raw, militant, yet soulful energy that highlights the connection between the streets of Detroit and the stars above.
Adding further depth to the release is A Guy Called Gerald, a pioneer of the Manchester scene whose work in acid house and jungle helped define the UK’s electronic identity. Gerald’s ability to weave complex breakbeats with ethereal pads aligns perfectly with the rhythmic complexity of Sun Ra’s compositions. Similarly, the inclusion of Calibre—a figurehead in the drum and bass world known for his "liquid" and jazz-inflected productions—suggests that the compilation will explore a wide range of tempos and textures. The lineup is rounded out by the likes of Parisian producer Ben Vedren, the versatile Barış K, and the rising talent SHE Spells Doom, ensuring a truly international perspective on the Sun Ra mythos.
To ground the abstract electronic textures, the project features a powerful array of vocalists and poets who provide a human connection to the cosmic themes. Anthony Joseph, Mahogany L. Browne, Abiodun Oyewole, Tunde Adebimpe, and Tara Middleton contribute their voices, bridging the gap between Sun Ra’s original spoken-word recordings and contemporary poetic thought. These vocal layers act as a guiding thread throughout the 12-track release, reinforcing the idea that Sun Ra’s message is as much about the power of the word as it is about the power of the note. The lead track, "When Angels Speak," offers a glimpse into this methodology. Originally appearing on Sun Ra’s landmark 1966 LP, the track has been revitalized for this collection, serving as a testament to the timeless nature of the original composition.
The release of When There Is No Sun will be supported by a series of high-profile global events that reflect the project’s "global recording" ethos. The festivities begin on March 17th with a live stream from the Pan African Space Station in Cape Town, South Africa, a location that underscores the project’s roots in the African diaspora and its global reach. On March 20th, the focus shifts to Europe, where Villalobos and Chez Damier will perform at Open Ground in Wuppertal, Germany. This event promises to be a masterclass in the intersection of minimal techno and soulful house, filtered through the lens of Sun Ra’s influence.
In April, the celebration moves to New York City, the city where the Sun Ra Arkestra spent many of its most formative years. A performance at the renowned venue Nublu on April 10th will see the current iteration of the Sun Ra Arkestra sharing the stage with Chez Damier, creating a direct dialogue between the jazz elders and the house music vanguard. Finally, the project will culminate in a massive showcase at the Dekmantel Festival in Amsterdam on July 31st, featuring the multidisciplinary artist Saul Williams alongside Underground Resistance. This performance is poised to be a highlight of the festival circuit, merging spoken word, techno, and jazz into a singular, revolutionary experience.
For Omni Sound, the label behind the release, When There Is No Sun represents a significant achievement in music archaeology and contemporary curation. By facilitating these collaborations, the label is ensuring that the work of Sun Ra remains a living, breathing entity rather than a static historical artifact. The compilation encourages listeners to look beyond the surface of electronic music and recognize the deep spiritual and intellectual foundations that have been laid by pioneers like Sun Ra. It challenges the modern producer to think beyond the grid and the loop, embracing the unpredictability and the "organized chaos" that defined the Arkestra’s sound.
As the March 27th release date approaches, the anticipation within the audiophile and club communities continues to build. The album is currently available for pre-order via Bandcamp, where fans can also listen to "When Angels Speak." In an era where music is often consumed in bite-sized, disposable segments, When There Is No Sun stands as a dense, challenging, and ultimately rewarding piece of art. It is a reminder that the universe is vast, and that the music we create is a way of navigating that vastness. Whether experienced on a darkened dancefloor in Berlin or through a pair of headphones in a quiet room, this compilation invites the listener to step out of their own "prison of the mind" and join the Arkestra on a journey to the stars.
Ultimately, this project is a celebration of the enduring power of the avant-garde. Sun Ra once said, "The impossible attracts me because everything possible has been done and the world didn’t change." By revisiting his work through the ears of some of the world’s most forward-thinking electronic musicians, Ricardo Villalobos and Omni Sound are proving that the impossible is still worth striving for. When There Is No Sun is not just a tribute; it is a continuation of a cosmic mission that began decades ago and shows no signs of slowing down. As the Arkestra continues to perform under the leadership of Marshall Allen, and as producers like Villalobos continue to push the boundaries of sound, the legacy of Sun Ra remains a guiding light in an often-dark world, reminding us that there is always a "living sky" above us, waiting to be explored.