Sunn O))
Monoliths & Dimensions
(CD / 2 LP - SUNN100)
Total Running Time: 53 minutes (approx)
Track listing:
- Aghatha (17:34)
- Big Church (09:43)
- Hunting & Gathering (Cydonia) (10:02)
- Alice (16:21)
Sunn O))) return with their seventh studio album on Southern Lord, Monoliths & Dimensions, after 10 years of being at the forefront of experimental music. This is arguably their most intense, mature and accomplished work to date, and is sure to keep them their position as leaders of the current scene.
Recorded at various points throughout 2007 and 2008 by Randall Dunn and Mell Dettmer, it features a vast array of other players including long-time collaborators Attila Csihar (Mayhem) and Oren Ambarchi. Other guests include such luminaries as Julian Priester (notable for work with Sun Ra and Herbie Hancock), and slow music God-father Dylan Carlson of Earth. In addition, arrangements were handled by noted composer Eyvind Kang who has worked with John Zorn, Bill Frisell and Mike Patton amongst others. Fleshing out the usual Sunn lineup is an upright bass trio, French & English horns, a harp and flute duo, piano, brass, reed & string ensembles. Despite this, this is not "Sunn with strings" or "metal meets orchestra" material, this is something altogether more exciting.
Monoliths & Dimensions is a practice in density, gravity & momentum, but this is only the tip of the iceburg.