“Switched On Ra is the outcome of a typical Bajas exercise: pouring some out for the pioneers that came before (as they’ve done with Bitchitronics and their participation in the annual Chicago performance of “In C” over the years). It’s a nice way to get a flow — they play a little of themselves, then some for the pioneers, then a little more for the band. Before long, they’re playing with the inspirations twined, as they can only come from within. For Switched On Ra, this meant a deep delve into the song-book of one of their soul-predecessors, Sun Ra, whose music is literally written in the Bajas DNA. Digging into this music sounded wild on paper: the drone synth group taking on the Arkestra harmonies and Ra’s loose grooves? The trick was to get that sense of rhythm to translate across the spectrum from Ra to Bajas, in a way that worked for them both.

[...] Sun Ra of course was his own kind of original keyboard visionary, using electric keyboards in the late 40s and 50s to fill a role in jazz that had traditionally been played on acoustic piano only. Once he’d done so, he took his writing in directions inspired by the electricity, places no one had thought to go before then. Doing what he did on the keys was a stand for individuality that became the background radiation of his journey through the cosmos; the search for a place beyond earthly dominance, for all the people who desperately wanted the fuck OUT. Bitchin Bajas have been content to dominate in a microtonal world, usually without a single chord to be found anywhere. But here, they step up righteously, their vibe triangulated as they bring Ra’s music forward with some Wendy C style, making an unexpected space for all to thrive. There’s a real feeling of joy as these collected signals bounce off the tape and through the speakers into your space. Switched On Ra is an effervescent celebration of music throughout time and space.” (Drag City)

Covermotiv © Sun Ra 1980 Veryl Oakland

@ Drag City

“2009 – 2016: it was a different time! Today’s electronic/​drone/​ambient household name Bitchin Bajas started humbly as a synthesized solo outlet before morphing into the powerhouse trio made up of Cooper Crain, Dan Quinlivan and Rob Frye that we all know and love! Now, with the 7xCD Rebajas box-set, you can revisit those halcyon days through the collected catalog of a group moving into their early prime, showcasing the progression of sounds and experimentation throughout the years – on yes, CD format! Packaged in a unique gate-fold jacket with a thick booklet of original album arts and info, Rebajas will bring it all back to you.” (Drag City)

Drag City

Ob der Kollege vom Musikexpress die genannte Ungreifbarkeit im Sinne hatte oder doch eher die abgehobene hypnotische Dudeligkeit einiger Stücke, die man als New Age-Touch interpretieren kann, sei dahingestellt – recht hat er, wenn er betont, dass die Bajas diesmal so esoterisch klingen wie nie zuvor. Verträumt oder je nach Assoziations bedrogt beginnt der Reigen mit “Jammu”, dessen repetitive, durch Raumklangspielereien aufgelockerte Synthies in entspannter und vielleicht auch etwas dröger Gelassenheit ins Unendliche ausscheren, auch beim folgenden “Circles on Circles”, das mit lautem Windrauschen beginnt, übernimmt irgendwann das psychedelische Synthiegekringel die Führung, und am Ende des Stücks fühlt man sich wie nach dem kurzen Einblick in etwas endloses.

Erst im weiteren Verlauf kommt etwas Variation und Kante ins Spiel, so der untergründige Groove und die chillige Bläsermelodie in “Angels and Demons at Play”, das dunkle Harmoniumdrone in “2303″ oder der folkig perkussive Fast-Freakout im ausladenden “Yonaguni”, das aufgrund seiner zahlreichen Soundideen für mich das zentrale Stück des Albums ist – Kuhglocken treffen auf Westcoast-Gitarren und somnambule Synthies, mit anderen Worten ist das Stück eine kleine Enzyklopädie. Eine safte, durchaus coole Regressivität, in der man sich erkennen und zugleich verlieren kann, bleibt aber auf all diesen Abschnitten gewahrt, und wenn mit dem finalen “Be Going” und seinem cheesy Saxophon alles in trauter Versponnenheit ausklingt, bleibt das noch eine ganze Zeitlang anhaltende Gefühl einer runden Sache. (A. Kaudaht)

Label: Drag City