AMG Review of Black Myth/Out in Space

Jason Ankeny
All Music Guide

Although portions of the Black Myth/Out in Space were previously issued as It's After the End of the World, this two-disc set is far and away the definitive release of the material in question, compiling two 1970 festival appearances documenting Sun Ra at the peak of his considerable creative powers. Black Myth, recorded at ~the Donaueschingen Music Festival, is the real find here, with a series of compositions and solos written specifically for performance on that evening -- the Arkestra, including John Gilmore and Pat Patrick, is in excellent form throughout, and the music is consistently inventive and galvanizing. The same sentiments apply to Out in Space as well -- a set comprised primarily of cosmic journeys like "Walkin' on the Moon," "Outer Space Where I Came From" and "Theme of the Stargazers," it climaxes with a powerful rendition of "We Travel the Spaceways."