JIMI HENDRIX — First Rays of the New Rising Sun (review)

JIMI HENDRIX — First Rays of the New Rising Sun album cover Boxset / Compilation · 1997 · Jazz Related Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
dreadpirateroberts
It's difficult to write about posthumous releases. On one hand you're excited to hear music you might never have had the chance to hear, on the other, you can find yourself frustrated by the potential only hinted at within its songs.

'First Rays of the New Rising Sun' is an attempt by the Hendrix family to present what his next album would have been by collecting a wide range of near-to-completed sounding songs. While this isn't exactly the way it plays, with the inclusion of alternate mixes of older songs for instance, the family did manage to remove control of Hendrix's unreleased material from Alan Douglass, whose disrespectful treatment of the music in prior releases was worse than any missteps this compilation might make.

In fact, 'First Rays...' is not a failure by any means, especially for a compilation that draws together a range of rarities into a reasonably cohesive sum total of Hendrix's unfinished but impressive ideas. A less psychedelic Hendrix, perhaps a less wild Hendrix, he seemed to be exploring the rhythm and blues roots, seen most during earlier concerts and the release of the Band of Gypsys album.

'Freedom', 'Izabella' and 'Dolly Dagger' make up some of the more stunning tracks, stacked at the beginning of the album, with 'Room Full of Mirrors' not too far behind. Across the whole of the collection the songwriting is not as consistent as this opening, nor are his vocal lines (which were admittedly unfinished) and it isn't until 'Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)' that we see another gem. Jimi's guide vocal, still being worked out as he sings, is suggestive of where he was going but it's the guitar that you notice. His usual finesse is on display, with that mix of rhythm and lead taking centre stage.

There are other worthwhile moments, 'Drifting' for one, a pleasant ballad though perhaps a little too reminiscent of 'Angel' or 'Little Wing' in tenor, but overall this is a good album rather than a great one. Still Hendrix, but Hendrix unfinished.
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