To Sirius by RA

This month marks the 25th anniversary of one of the most iconic and timeless albums in the history of Goa Trance: "To Sirius" by the legendary Norwegian act RA. To commemorate this milestone, DAT Universe has worked tirelessly behind the scenes with the band’s visionary founders, Christer Borge-Lunde and Lars W. Lind, to curate an extraordinary triple-CD reissue—a tribute that not only honours this revered masterpiece but also cements RA’s legacy in the pantheon of the genre. More than a mere celebration of their magnum opus, this ambitious project seeks to transcend nostalgia, expanding the reissue into the ultimate anthology, gathering the finest compositions ever crafted by the duo during the height of their creative journey. The painstaking process of meticulously digitizing the band’s priceless DAT tapes and unearthing their long-lost old archives was a labour of love spanning several years. The result is a captivating odyssey through RA’s early foray into Goa Trance, and a definitive panorama of their artistic evolution before their reformation in 2006.

Originally released in 2000 by the Taiwanese label Blue Moon Productions, and reissued in 2001 by Nova Tekk, "To Sirius" emerged like a celestial anomaly in the Psychedelic Trance scene—a luminous UFO soaring above a landscape increasingly dominated by dark minimalist and techno-infused influences. Its arrival was nothing short of a revelation, conveying a sonic manifesto that rekindled the genre’s cosmic soul and melodic grandeur. RA’s seminal masterpiece encapsulates all the quintessential elements that defined the golden era of Goa Trance, seamlessly intertwining intricate melodies, ethereal atmospheres, and hypnotic rhythms. Yet, "To Sirius" stands as a bold and visionary endeavour—an enthralling alchemy of spiritual sounds that transcend the boundaries of trance. With its cutting-edge 3D sound design and futuristic precision, the album not only redefined the genre but also reignited a glimmer of hope for its resurgence at the dawn of the new millennium. The first disc presents a remastered version of the album staying true to its original essence while elevating it to new heights—each track now resonates with greater depth, richness and balance than ever before. For the first time ever, listeners will also experience the complete, unabridged version of "Astral Flight", restored after being truncated in the original release.

The second disc brings together all previously released vinyl and compilation tracks produced in the 90s, alongside a trove of unreleased gems composed between 1997 and 1999—hidden treasures that never made the album’s final cut. These long-forgotten pieces, exhumed from the band’s secret vaults, have now been reinstated into the original work, breathing new life into this reissue—a true "rebirth". This collection also features a miraculous discovery: the medley "Mooncake – Tribes Of The Moon", born from RA’s inspired collaboration with Kerry Palmer and Graham Franklin of Dimension 5.

The final disc unveils the finest previously unreleased tracks from the pivotal years leading up to the creation of "To Sirius" (1995-1996)—a mesmerizing journey through the duo’s formative era, where raw creativity and fearless experimentation forged their unmistakable sound signature. Spanning an eclectic range of tempos and styles, these early productions stand as vibrant testaments to the artistic evolution of a band destined to etch its singular legacy into music history.

This reissue also includes a richly detailed booklet chronicling the history of RA, complete with in-depth liner notes from the duo. It offers a rare glimpse into the equipment they used, along with long-kept secrets revealed for the first time—including the origin of the "RA" alias and the hidden meaning behind the "To Sirius" album title.

With this monumental reissue, "To Sirius" is reborn—a timeless masterpiece once again illuminating the vast cosmos of Goa Trance.

Tracklist:

Disc One: RA – To Sirius

01 [Prologue] 02:07
02 Astral Flight 15:12
03 Universal Key 09:13
04 Beyond Control 08:34
05 Initiated 07:47
06 Sign Of Life 08:47
07 R.O.M. 08:46
08 Paradox 07:53
09 Sirius 06:52
10 [Epilogue] 04:38

Disc Two: RA – Rebirth

01 Rebirth 03:30
02 Another Horizon 08:20
03 Spiritual Odyssey 05:57
04 Lifeline 06:36
05 Questions 07:59
06 Azure Child 08:20
07 Mooncake – Tribes of the Moon 08:59
08 Static Distress 07:58
09 Crystals 08:01
10 Unseen Sky 05:04
11 Sanctuary 07:11

Disc Three: RA – The Early Years

01 Gateway (Goa Mix) 09:35
02 Cheops (Spirit Nomad) 07:45
03 Iris 07:32
04 Soul Transfusion 09:30
05 The Calling 09:15
06 Messenger From Beyond 08:34
07 Sign Of Sun 08:58
08 Intermission 02:07
09 Cheops (Caravan of Life) 07:53
10 Gateway 07:38