Ra – To Sirius

Prepare to engage warp drives and activate your stargates, for DAT Records has once again propelled us deep into the cosmic unknown with the reissue of RA's legendary masterpiece, "To Sirius." Like a voyage aboard the USS Enterprise under the steadfast command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard - DAT Records' mastermind Draeke being our musical counterpart - the mission is clear: to boldly go where no Goa trance aficionado has gone before.

From the opening cosmic chords of "Prologue," listeners are invited through an ancient stargate, spiraling towards a sonic universe brimming with psychedelic energy and celestial wisdom. The hypnotic journey through "Astral Flight" feels akin to navigating the wormholes of Stargate SG-1, traversing through vibrant nebulas and ancient alien civilizations. RA's meticulous sound design resembles mentoring Starfleet cadets, patiently guiding the listener through intricate layers of melody and rhythm, illuminating the mysteries of cosmic consciousness.

The track "Universal Key" serves as a psychedelic portal to the Q Continuum itself - ethereal, transcendent, and brimming with omnipotent energy. As each track unfolds, the listener encounters alien worlds: from the mystical landscapes of "Beyond Control" to the pulsating rhythms of "Other Self," reminiscent of alien rituals discovered on distant planets.

Disc Two, "Rebirth," acts like discovering Atlantis in Stargate Atlantis - ancient, sophisticated, and brimming with hidden technologies of sound. The collaboration with Dimension 5 on "Mooncake - Tribes of the Moon" delivers an interstellar council meeting of galactic proportions, bridging universes with interdimensional wisdom.

The additional disc, "The Early Years," serves as a prequel series, revealing the formation of RA's sonic identity. Tracks like "Cheops (Spirit Nomad)" and "Iris" resonate like cadets' first exploratory missions, raw yet filled with promise, charting the early stellar coordinates of their celestial journey.

Accompanying this star-bound experience is a meticulously detailed booklet - our starship’s logbook - crafted by Draeke himself, the Jean-Luc Picard of psychedelic preservation, documenting RA’s profound musical evolution and illuminating their voyage through the expansive psychedelic universe.

DAT Records' reissue of "To Sirius" is not merely music; it's a psychedelic star trek through ancient stargates and alien landscapes. It's an invitation from the Q Continuum itself, beckoning listeners to transcend mundane reality and explore the infinite possibilities of the cosmic realm.

I didn't know that DAT Universe had been working on this, especially for several years, but I'm so glad they were and have now released it. The original album sounds stellar with the new mastering, along with the full version of 'Astral Flight'. The tracks found on disc 2 and 3 are also great additions to have, there isn't a single track that I find boring on here, and there's many that I enjoy a lot. The booklet has been a really fun read, too.