Review Summary: An excellent cut of the 24-hour long track, condensed into 50 minutes and on clear wax for those who don't have the time to listen to a 24-hour long Flips track (i.e. everyone but that one extremely hardcore fan with too much time on his hands).
The Flaming Lips surely love gimmicks, and on Record Store Day this year, the band dished out a condensed version of one of their most absurd stunts,
7 Skies H3. Originally a limited release of thirteen copies, and priced at a minimal $5,000 (due to the fact the container for the flash drive was a human skull),
24-Hour Song was made in one take and put the Flips to the ultimate test. And three years and many heady fwends later, Coyne and friends decided to release an edited version of
7 Skies H3 for those unable to listen to the entire track.
7 Skies H3 offers what is considered the highlights of the original track, and to an extent, that is a problem within the album as a good few of the tracks do not gel quite right. Amongst all the loosely-cut tracks, there is a kind of magic to the now-butchered
24-Hour Song. Each track has an allure to it, whether it be the Silver Apples-like vibe in
In a Dream or the panicked howls beneath the lush harps in
Riot in my Brain!!. That is the beauty of
7 Skies H3 despite its flaws, the ability to make such an ambitious suite such as this and to cut down from such a vast song that spanned god knows how many genres, whether it be ambient music, noise rock, or neo-psychedic. And perhaps that’s why it managed to be so consistent even with some of its problems concerning the flow between the ten tracks. Mainly an instrumental album,
7 Skies H3 is a showcase of all the tricks the Flips have up their sleeves, whether it be Wayne Coyne’s obnoxiously strained voice (whenever he gets a chance to use it that is), Steven Drozd’s virtuosity on the several instruments he takes the helm at, or Kliph Scurlock’s magnificent discipline when it comes to drumming. The group dynamic to say the least, is unbelievable.
7 Skies H3 is far from flawless, and surely could’ve done better in terms of capturing the listener’s attention. However, it manages to grow on them if given the chance and the repeated spins it surely deserves. But for the main concept going on in
7 Skies H3, it is undoubtedly worthy of respect, and is an effort by the Flaming Lips that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. What else is there to be said?
Highlights:
7 Skies H3 (Can't Shut Off My Head)
In a Dream
Requiem
Riot in my Brain!!
