Ra is a band that’s been around since 1996 and has always been packed with incredible talent from top to bottom, to be sure. Even with a lineup change or two, they’ve always managed to maintain their own style. Their sound is driving, progressive, and completely unlike most other bands out there today. They mix killer standard-issue rock/metal instruments (guitars, bass, drums), that you would expect, with middle eastern twists and interesting technical elements here and there, that you don’t expect, to really allow them to stand out among the other bands in their genre. And they put in one killer live show that I know, personally, I’ve never missed when they’ve come through my area near Cleveland.
It’s been a few years since they’ve released a new album or record, until now! With an Erlybird project, Ra has released their new ep, The Refix. It is a compilation of previously-released tracks, remastered and fixed up in the way that lead singer and main man of Ra, Sahaj Ticotin, feels are complete and finally reaching their full potential. On Erlybird, he says,
“Hello World… Sahaj from Ra here. I have always felt very strongly about a few RA songs that, for whatever reason, never reached what I hoped would be their full potential. Most of the reasons surround mixes, engineering and occasionally performances. Since my skill level on the technical side has taken a big leap in the last 2 to 3 years I re-did some parts, added elements and then re-mixed them with a modern aesthetic. The result is an overall awesomeness of each track compared to the originals.”
The goal of the EP (with six remastered tracks and a brand new track to be sent out at the end of the project to all who download the EP) is to give fans the chance to hear Ra songs as Sahaj has always envisioned they could be, and the EP does not disappoint. From “Do You Call My Name,” to “Rectifier,” the songs on this track are cleaner, heavier, and dare I say better this time around than before. I know some people poo-poo remix albums, but in many cases, I feel they are warranted when the artists aren’t completely satisfied with what they heard the first time around. And in this, I respect Sahaj for following his vision. That vision paid off with The Refix.
“Do You Call My Name” right out of the gate, completely takes the ears by pleasant surprise. With a new, more cinematic introduction, much along the lines of a Starset track, this one hits hard right away. Sahaj’s voice carries out over the pulsing drums and guitars, and the basic feel of the song is present but improved. It is a cleaner, more polished version of the original. There are harmonies on this one that weren’t on the original version, and it is obvious that Sahaj and the crew put some TLC into this track. I love it.
In the next song, “Taken,” the sound is tighter, more cohesive. It’s smooth without being boring, and the song possesses a lighter, ethereal quality that I didn’t quite fully appreciate in the original. The lyrics to this one have always been some of my favorite from them, and the vocals feel more showcased in this version. Fans of the original will dig this one.
This leads to “Supernova,” and this version of the song I like a lot!! I have to admit, this wasn’t always one of my favorites from them, but this may just have changed my mind. I love this new introduction – again, something we didn’t necessarily get before – and this version feels stronger all around. The guitar talents of P. J. Farley and Ben Carroll are on full display on this track; it’s definitely a “better” version of the original.
The next track, “Faulty Information,” has always been one of the best tracks I think they’ve ever played, and this version is killer. The urgency of the Skoota Warner’s drums drives the song, seemingly pushing the guitars to move, move, move, while Sahaj’s vocals never falter. It’s heavy without feeling bogged down. Can a song be “speedily heavy?” I say, for this track, it’s the perfect turn of phrase. And, I like this track a lot.
“Rectifier” is the song that defines Ra for me. It’s one of the first songs I ever heard from them, and I was hooked immediately waaaaaay back in 2002 when From One was released. And, man, that song always gets me. This version is no different. I hate to sound like a broken record here, but this remixed version is super clean, doing more to showcase Sahaj’s vocals. It’s still very instrumentally-driven, don’t get me wrong, but I can definitely “hear” Sahaj a lot more clearly in this version. It’s very close to the original with a little more polish and shine. It will still be the song that defines them for me, and I’m glad this version is as good as it is. (That ending STILL gets me jamming like I know what I’m doing on drums – I do not.)
Last and certainly not least, “Don’t Turn Away” closes out this six-song EP. And it’s such a beautiful track to end with. This track does not get the love it deserves, as far as I am concerned, and this version is beautiful. It’s softer than the other five tracks, but it still holds its own in terms of power. It actually doesn’t sound much different than the original, but that’s not a bad thing. A little polish and shine is sometimes all that is needed!
In all, this is worth the little bit of cash that Sahaj and the guys are asking for on their Erlybird project site (click Erlybird for link). The songs are stronger, smoother, and have a lot more to offer in terms of additional elements that weren’t present the first time around. And you only have FOUR DAYS to pick it up, so I’d do that quickly! There are different packages for purchase, including ones for digital downloads and merch, so if you’re a fan of the band or just want to know what they’re all about, go get click happy and support their Erlybird project. 
I give this one four skulls, and I look forward to the new full-length album when it comes out, as Sahaj has promised, “As Ra fans, you have always been so supportive and consistently excited for what we’ve done that I’m really focused on all the new content to make sure this next record is next level.”
Next level, he says? I say, bring it!
Refix Tracklist
1. Do You Call My Name?
2. Taken
3. Supernova
4. Faulty Information
5. Rectifier
6. Don’t Turn Away
Review by Devon Anderson, RockRevolt managing editor and journalist
