Harnetty, Brian – The Sociophonic Key (A – Library) 7″ {Scioto Records}

Brian Harnetty took a trip outta his hometown of Ohio in 2011 and put his found sound experimental collage expertise into a Chicago art installation using audio from the Sun Ra / El Saturn Archives. This 500 copy limited run EP showcases three selections that sample Sun Ra speaking and playing with his Arkestra and mixes it with other audio samples & sound sources. The opening intro tells of the power of the “Sociophonic Key” and its magic ability to unlock the power and sound of letters. The second track listens in on two intertwined scenarios where a woman speaks over the phone on to Hamm’s answering machine asking “Hamm, Are You There” while Sun Ra plays piano and young children sing along. “We Want To Invite, We Do Invite You”builds from a soft sermon into an impassioned sing-it-if-you-got-the-Spirit holy revival with Sun Ra’s Arkestra slowly buzzing on fuzzy keys & tambourine. It’s a weirdo romp worth re-listening & revisiting.

~ Curtis Kimby