Suns of Arqa - Solar Activity: 1979-2001

Suns of Arqa have been led by founder Michael Wadada since the release of the group's 1979 debut LP 'Revenge of the Mozabites', some 200 members from across the globe have passed through its ranks, many of them met by Wadada during his extensive travels and sharing his interest in indigenous, tribal, folk and classical music traditions.

In addition to subsequent albums, including 1980's Wadada Magic, 1982's India? and 1984's Ark of the Arqans, the Suns of Arqa regularly backed reggae legend Prince Far I, even performing at his final concert (captured on the Live with Prince Far-I LP). With the masterful Land of a Thousand Churches, Wadada began issuing the group's material on his own Arka Sound label, a flurry of releases followed, among them Alap-Joe-Jhala, Jaggernaut (Whirling Dub) and Shabda.

If you've even brushed up alongside the electronica or UK festi-scenes, you will have heard them. Still, listening to Suns of Arqa now, there is a certain magic to their sound that sets them apart from other similar bands. Michael Wadada and his collaborators are the best at what they do, and it shows in the quality of the music they release.
Solar Activity was released in 2001, 22 years after the band was established, this sprawling two-disc anthology collects some of the brightest moments from the deep and varied Suns of Arqa catalog. Those who love experimental worldbeat fusion, the Asian underground, and avant dub in general will want to seek out most, if not all, of the many titles represented here.

Suns of Arqa - Solar Activity: 1979-2001
Disc one / Disc two

Disc: 1
1. Cosmic Jagaband
2. Radha Krsna
3. The Lama Geshe
4. Jagnath Bhaikavi
5. There Is No Danger Here
6. La Pacelle d'Orleans
7. The Truth Lies There In
8. Paradisum In Dub
9. Basant Alap
10. Basant Dhrupad
11. Acid Tabla Dub
12. World Peace A.D
Disc: 2
1. Tomorrow Never Knows
2. Kadir the Whirling Durvesh
3. The Sky Shall Vanish
4. Govinda's Dream
5. Govinda Go
6. Inca Man
7. Whirling Forest
8. Cosmic Jugalbandi
9. Durga Dub
10. Deep Journey

Track origins:
[1-01] from "Cosmic Jugalbandi"
[1-02] edited from "Suns Of Arqa Meet The Gayan Uttejak Orchestra"
[1-03] edited from "Un1-verse- City"
[1-04] edited from "Jaggernaut Whirling Dub"
[1-05] from "Shabda"
[1-06] from "Seven"
[1-07] edited from "Seven"
[1-08] from "Seven"
[1-09] from "Shabda"
[1-10] edited from "Shabda"
[1-11] from "Revenge Of The Mozabites"
[1-12] from "Revenge Of The Mozabites"
[2-01] from "Shabda"
[2-02] from "Un1-verse- City"
[2-03] from "Suns Of Arqa Meet The Gayan Uttejak Orchestra"
[2-04] from "Govinda's House In The City Of Nine Gates"
[2-05] edited from "Govinda's House In The City Of Nine Gates"
[2-06] from "Total Eclipse Of The Suns"
[2-07] from "Tribal Futures" (a benefit compilation for Survival International)
[2-08] from "Animan"
[2-09] edited from "Technomor (Remixes Volume 4)"
[2-10] from "Aberglaube (Remixes Volume 3)"
[2-11] from "Cosmic Jugalbandi"
[2-12] from "Kokoromochi"

[2-13] from "Land Of A Thousand Churches"

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