Released: 2014

Genres: Neo-Psychedelia, Experimental Rock, Post-Rock, Ambient, Drone

The Musiquarium’s 7 Skies H3 Review Score: 8 out of 10

Originally released in 2011 as one continuously-recorded, 24-hour long song under the title 24 Hour Song Skull (housed within an actual human skull), it was eventually released three years later in a condensed form at a more digestible 50 minutes under the title of 7 Skies H3.

As a prelude of sorts to the nihilistic sound of The Terror (a breakup album that followed frontman Wayne Coyne’s divorce), 7 Skies H3 is full of pain, evident by the title track, in which Coyne is in the midst of the implosion and death of his romance (“And now that you’re not here, I’m frightened of the sunset”). Meepy Morp is like the devastation of being trapped alone with your memories, with Battling Voices From Beyond representing the terrifying realization of isolation.

In a Dream feels as if Coyne is falling asleep and letting this new reality unfold in his subconscious mind, trying to make sense of it all. Requiem and Meepy Morp (Reprise) are brief moments of surrender, where the horror subsides, until Riot in My Brain!! is like waking up from the nightmare, only to realize that it actually happened. 7 Skies H3 (Main Theme) and Can’t Let It Go revisit the musical motifs of the opener, with Coyne acknowledging that he must move on — he doesn’t think he can, but he knows he has no other choice and no say in the matter.

Unfortunately, 7 Skies H3 is a project that will go unnoticed by casual listeners due to its bizarre release, but it is one of the band’s most beautiful, surreal and tragic offerings, as well as one of their best of the decade. This is an essential listen that will cradle your heart right after its been torn out of your chest.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view The Flaming Lips on Discogs.

Back to the 2014 Album Guide or the The Flaming Lips Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard