| Phase 3: Thrones and Dominions | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Studio album by Earth | ||
| Released | April 25 1995 | |
| Recorded | November 1993 at John and Stu's (Initial Recording) | |
| Genre | Drone Doom, Drone, Ambient | |
| Length | 55:04 | |
| Producer | Earth, Stuart Hallerman | |
| Earth chronology | ||
| Earth 2 - Special Low Frequency Version (1993) |
Phase 3: Thrones and Dominions (1995) |
Sunn Amps and Smashed Guitars (1996) |
Phase 3: Thrones and Dominions is the second full-length studio album by the drone band Earth. Recorded over a year in two sessions, it would be released via Sub Pop in April 1995. Though ignored by critics at the time it has since attained a cult following and is cited among key albums in the development of drone doom.[1]
Background[]
Initial recording of Earth's second album would take place at John and Stu's circa November 1993 with additional recording at Soundhouse in 1994.[2]
Retroactively despite liking the album Dylan Carlson has described Phase 3 as "unfinished" and with "absolutely nothing" in regards to prepared written material. At one point Sub Pop rejected the album and would relent with pleading on part of Carlson, leading to the album ultimately almost not being made or finished at all.
In an interview with VICE, Carlson spoke about the tumultuous process in creating Phase 3:
| “ | "In a lot of ways, I really like Phase 3, but ultimately it’s unfinished. It was done at a time when I was at my lowest ebbs physically and mentally. It almost didn’t even get made. It was made in two different sessions a year apart. I showed up to the first sessions two or three days late with absolutely nothing. Thankfully we just rolled tape and my producer Phil Eck handled it very well. We headed to his house, grabbed a guitar and amp, and went right back to the studio. (Laughs)
[On showing up with no gear and the second session] Yep (Laughs). Nothing at all! So after a few sessions, Sub Pop pulled the plug. Sub Pop didn’t want to put _Phase 3 out but we eventually convinced them to do it anyway about a year later, so the second round of sessions started. We were a few days in and my girlfriend at the time overdosed in the studio bathroom and that cut recording short. [The whole process] was kind of a mess and so was I. We ended up just mixing what we had. Really only “Phase 3: Agni Detonating Over the Thar Desert...,” “Tibetan Quaaludes,” and “Thrones and Dominions” was finished. A lot of tracks sound just, like, broken off midway to me. I’m glad it was “finished” and it is out there, but I feel like I shot myself in the foot with this one. I take full responsibility for that. [On accessibility and grunge influences] Not really. I always viewed Earth as separate from that entire thing around me. We’re Seattle’s redheaded stepchild. (laughs) I never really felt like I was a part of any kind of movement, genre, or trend at this time." |
” |
— Dylan Carlson, VICE [3]
|
Phase 3 was initially released on 25 April 1995 on only the CD format. Eleven years later Phase 3 would see a re-issue on digipak CD and (for the first time) double vinyl on 23 May 2006.
Tracklist[]
Earth - Phase 3 Thrones and Dominions, 1995 (Full Album)
- 1. Harvey (2:54)
- 2. Tibetan Quaaludes (7:43)
- 3. Lullaby (Take 2: How Dry I Am) (3:15)
- 4. Song 4 (2:50)
- 5. Site Specific Carnivorous Occurrence (8:41)
- 6. Phase 3: Agni Detonating Over The Thar Desert... (12:28)
- 7. Thrones and Dominions (14:21)
- 8. Song 6 (Chime) (2:48)
Personnel[]
- Dylan Carlson - Guitar, Percussion
- Tommy Hansen - Guitar (1, 4)
- Rick Cambern - Drums (5)
- Scott Miller - Engineer, Mixing
- Phil Ek - Recording
- Jeff Kleinsmith - Design
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ Head Heritage
- ↑ Thrones and Dominions
- ↑ VICERank Your Records: Dylan Carlson Revisits Earth's Pioneering Drone Albums, accessed 14 October 2020