First Rays of the New Rising Sun (Special Edition)

Jimi's final album, 'First Rays of the New Rising Sun' is now re-issued with a bonus DVD!

"Highly unique and innovative artist Jimi Hendrix has now been gone for as long as he was with us, yet his sounds are as vital today as when he created them.

From 1968-70, he was working on a proposed double album to follow on from studio masterpiece 'Electric Ladyland'. 'First Rays of the New Rising Sun' was to be released at the close of the first year of the new decade and was to summarize Jimi's contribution to the music of the 60s.

As the title suggests, it was also to be the beginning of an exciting new direction, sadly Hendrix never go to complete his plan. When he died on September 18, he was still under contract to make a few more LPs yet, so the record company vultures had their evil way with the material.

Along with other demos and jams, it was spread out over 'Cry of Love', 'Rainbow Bridge' and 'War Heroes', considerably diluting the overall affect and feel of the songs. With the Hendrix estate finally owning the rights to Jimi's product, it was determined to release 'First Rays...' as true as possible to his original intentions. There is still a hint of incompleteness to the project, but it's a fascinating listening experience that deserves great attention.

Immediately with "Freedom", it's striking how wonderfully layered and fresh the sound is. Tracks like "Room Full of Mirrors", "Beginnings" and "In From the Storm" are fine pieces of musicianship with a vibrant depth and colour that is further enhanced by modern mastering. Jimi had chosen "Dolly Dagger" as a single and now it has a video to go with it that perhaps intentionally looks like a Lenny Kravitz clip with Hendrix superimposed into it.

The most enchanting pieces, however, are the heart-warming title track, the ethereal "Drifting" and, of course, "Angel". Whether you've heard these recordings in other forms or not, this is the best 'new' album to come out in a long time and should be sought out before sunset."
- GEOFF (15th May, 1997)