Sun Ra, Atlantis (side A)

1960's Atlantis, which dates from Sun Ra's time in Chicago, was reissued with much broader distribution, and an excellent mastering/pressing job, in 1973.  The album is divided among 3 styles.  The first two styles appear in short tracks on side A.  Atlantis begins wtih complicated instrumentals of interlocking tones and foreground keyboards that remind me a bit of Henry Cow, with their slightly awkward use of syncopation.  These are followed by tracks with densely layered, African-style percussion, a bit like Olatunji or Famoudou Don Moye's solo album.  Finally, side B consists of the long, droning, and slowly-evolving title track.  It would sound logical alongside Pelt, Double Leopards, or Robedoor.  Both the painting and design on the reissue cover, while cool and tasteful, are a bit too professional and polished for the album's clumsy and occasionally naïve contents.