Brother Ah‘s first solo recording, Sound Awareness, was released on the Strata East label in 1972. By this time, Ah had recorded extensively with the Sun Ra Arkestra and his solo work continued the boundary-pushing approaches he explored with that ensemble. Consisting of two side-length tracks, “Beyond Yourself (The Midnight Confession)”, and “Love Piece”, the album features notable appearances by percussionist Max Roach and the M’Boom Re:percussion Ensemble, as well as a 90-piece vocal choir. The 22-minute “Beyond Yourself” is billed as “a sound journey” in seven parts, outlining a man’s struggle to either give up drugs or become a monk.
