Wrapping Up: Bitchin Bajas Explore the Cosmos To Cover the Legend Sun Ra on ‘Switched On Ra’

Wrapping Up is where we can write about a few of the songs and albums that are our “Best of” year end lists that we otherwise didn’t get a chance to cover

When I saw that Bitchin Bajas, one of my favorite current bands, were doing a record of interpretations of Sun Ra songs, I smashed the pre-order button without even listening to the sample songs available. The match was just too perfect, with Bitchin Bajas being one of the few bands that I knew would not screw up the challenging task of taking on the complex legacy of Sun Ra. Even if the music stretched too far, it was going to be a trip. Luckily, they pushed and pulled all the right notes and created what became one of my favorite records of the year.

Lush soundscapes, shimmering vocals and trippy arrangements all blend together into an album that isn’t just a legit exploration of the cosmos, it is a beautiful, warm, inviting record. While this was a match made in heaven for me, even if you aren’t a previous fan of Bitchin Bajas or Sun Ra, Switched on Ra is an album you should check out if you are looking to dive into some heady, pristine music that will help you escape this broken planet for at least an hour.