Sunn O))) – Monoliths & Dimensions

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Label:	Southern Lord – SUNN100, Southern Lord – sunn100
Format:	CD, Album
Country:	US
Released:	May 2009
Genre:	Rock
Style:	Doom Metal, Experimental, Drone

Tracklist

1	Aghartha Arranged By [Acoustic] – Randall Dunn, Stephen O'Malley Bass Guitar – Greg Anderson Clarinet – Hans Teuber Conch [Dung Chen, Conch Shell] – Steve Moore (5), Stuart Dempster Conch [Shell] – Julian Priester Double Bass – Keith Lowe, Tim Smollens* Electric Guitar – Stephen O'Malley Electronics [Electric Guitar Effects & Oscillator] – Oren Ambarchi Engineer – Mell Dettmer, Randall Dunn Engineer [Assistant] – Floyd Reitsma English Horn – Taina Karr French Horn – Josiah Boothby Performer [Hydrophone] – Mell Dettmer Piano – Eric Walton Viola – Eyvind Kang Violin – Timb Harris Voice – Attila Csihar Written By – O'Malley/Anderson/Csihar Written-By – Csihar, Anderson, O'Malley* Arranged By [Acoustic] – Randall Dunn, Stephen O'Malley Bass Guitar – Greg Anderson Clarinet – Hans Teuber Conch [Dung Chen, Conch Shell] – Steve Moore (5), Stuart Dempster Conch [Shell] – Julian Priester Double Bass – Keith Lowe, Tim Smollens* Electric Guitar – Stephen O'Malley Electronics [Electric Guitar Effects & Oscillator] – Oren Ambarchi Engineer – Mell Dettmer, Randall Dunn Engineer [Assistant] – Floyd Reitsma English Horn – Taina Karr French Horn – Josiah Boothby Performer [Hydrophone] – Mell Dettmer Piano – Eric Walton Viola – Eyvind Kang Violin – Timb Harris Voice – Attila Csihar Written By – O'Malley/Anderson/Csihar Written-By – Csihar, Anderson, O'Malley*	17:34
2	Big Church [Megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért] Arranged By [Choir, Brass & String] – Eyvind Kang, Jessika Kenney Choir [Alto] – Angela Kiemayer, Jutta Sierlinger, Verena Bodem Choir [Soprano/alto] – Katharina Einsiedl, Loma Döring, Stephanie Pfeffer Electric Guitar – Dylan Carlson, Greg Anderson, Oren Ambarchi, Stephen O'Malley Engineer – Armin Steiner, Dominick Hummer, Mell Dettmer, Randall Dunn Engineer [Assistant] – Mark Clem Soprano Vocals [Lead], Alto Vocals [Lead] – Jessika Kenney Synthesizer [Korg Ms20] – Rex Ritter Trombone, Organ – Steve Moore (5) Trumpet – Cuong Vu Tubular Bells – Mell Dettmer Viola – Eyvind Kang Voice – Attila Csihar Written By – O'Malley/Anderson/Csihar Written-By – Csihar, Anderson, O'Malley* Arranged By [Choir, Brass & String] – Eyvind Kang, Jessika Kenney Choir [Alto] – Angela Kiemayer, Jutta Sierlinger, Verena Bodem Choir [Soprano/alto] – Katharina Einsiedl, Loma Döring, Stephanie Pfeffer Electric Guitar – Dylan Carlson, Greg Anderson, Oren Ambarchi, Stephen O'Malley Engineer – Armin Steiner, Dominick Hummer, Mell Dettmer, Randall Dunn Engineer [Assistant] – Mark Clem Soprano Vocals [Lead], Alto Vocals [Lead] – Jessika Kenney Synthesizer [Korg Ms20] – Rex Ritter Trombone, Organ – Steve Moore (5) Trumpet – Cuong Vu Tubular Bells – Mell Dettmer Viola – Eyvind Kang Voice – Attila Csihar Written By – O'Malley/Anderson/Csihar Written-By – Csihar, Anderson, O'Malley*	9:43
3	Hunting&Gathering (Cydonia) Arranged By [Brass] – Steve Moore (5) Bass Drum [Concert], Percussion – Brad Mowen Choir [Man] – William Herzog, Brad Mowen, Daniel Menche, Joe Preston Electric Guitar – Oren Ambarchi, Stephen O'Malley Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar – Greg Anderson Engineer – Mell Dettmer, Randall Dunn Gong – Oren Ambarchi Performer [Wolf Log] – Oren Ambarchi Synthesizer [Moog Voyager] – Rex Ritter Tambura [Electric Tamboura] – William Herzog Trombone, Synthesizer [Korg Ms20, Roland Juno] – Steve Moore (5) Trumpet – Tony Moore (10) Voice – Attila Csihar Written By – Anderson/O'Malley/Csihar Written-By – Csihar, Anderson, O'Malley* Arranged By [Brass] – Steve Moore (5) Bass Drum [Concert], Percussion – Brad Mowen Choir [Man] – William Herzog, Brad Mowen, Daniel Menche, Joe Preston Electric Guitar – Oren Ambarchi, Stephen O'Malley Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar – Greg Anderson Engineer – Mell Dettmer, Randall Dunn Gong – Oren Ambarchi Performer [Wolf Log] – Oren Ambarchi Synthesizer [Moog Voyager] – Rex Ritter Tambura [Electric Tamboura] – William Herzog Trombone, Synthesizer [Korg Ms20, Roland Juno] – Steve Moore (5) Trumpet – Tony Moore (10) Voice – Attila Csihar Written By – Anderson/O'Malley/Csihar Written-By – Csihar, Anderson, O'Malley*	10:02
4	Alice Arranged By [Ensemble] – Eyvind Kang Bass Guitar – Greg Anderson Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute [Alto] – Hans Teuber Double Bass – Keith Lowe, Moriah Neils, Tim Smollen* Electric Guitar – Stephen O'Malley Electric Guitar, Cymbal [Motorized], Electronics [Oscillator] – Oren Ambarchi Engineer – Mell Dettmer, Randall Dunn French Horn – Josiah Boothby Harp – Melissa Walsh Oboe, English Horn – Taina Karr Trombone – Julian Priester, Steve Moore (5), Stuart Dempster Viola – Eyvind Kang Violin – Timb Harris Written By – Anderson/O'Malley Written-By – Anderson, O'Malley Arranged By [Ensemble] – Eyvind Kang Bass Guitar – Greg Anderson Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute [Alto] – Hans Teuber Double Bass – Keith Lowe, Moriah Neils, Tim Smollen* Electric Guitar – Stephen O'Malley Electric Guitar, Cymbal [Motorized], Electronics [Oscillator] – Oren Ambarchi Engineer – Mell Dettmer, Randall Dunn French Horn – Josiah Boothby Harp – Melissa Walsh Oboe, English Horn – Taina Karr Trombone – Julian Priester, Steve Moore (5), Stuart Dempster Viola – Eyvind Kang Violin – Timb Harris Written By – Anderson/O'Malley Written-By – Anderson, O'Malley	16:21

Companies, etc.

Manufactured By – Furnace MFG
Recorded At – Studio Litho
Recorded At – London Bridge Studio
Recorded At – Aleph Studios
Recorded At – Rochuspark, Vienna
Recorded At – Forum Music Village
Mixed At – London Bridge Studio
Mastered At – Sinister Kitchen Laboratories

Credits

Arranged By [Additional Ensemble Arrangements] – Randall Dunn, Stephen O'Malley, Steve Moore (5)
Arranged By [Ensemble Arrangements Directed By] – Eyvind Kang
Art Direction – Stephen O'Malley
Artwork [Aziluth/asiyyah Drawing] – T. Ketola*
Artwork [Cyanotypes] – Mathilde Darel
Cover – Richard Serra
Illustration [Triptych Illustration] – Cathy Ward
Mastered By – Mell Dettmer
Photography By [Cover] – Rob McKeever
Photography By [Portraits] – Jenn Anderson, Kerry O'Sullivan, Marco Fusinato, Mathilde Darel
Photography By [Teotihuacán Photo] – Gisèle Vienne
Producer – Mell Dettmer, Randall Dunn, Sunn O)))
Written-By – Sunn O)))

Notes

Mastered at Sinister Kitchen. Cover is Serra's "out-of-round X" (1999), and was photographed by McKeever. Choir arrangement from Big Church inspired by Dylan Carlson.

All songs mixed at London Bridge, Shoreline Nov 08.
Aghartha recorded: Litho, Seattle Oct 08; London Bridge, Shoreline Jan 08; Aleph, Seattle Jan 08.
Big Church recorded: Litho, Seattle Oct 08; London Bridge, Shoreline Aug 08; Rochuspark, Vienna Aug 08; Aleph, Seattle, Jan 08; Forum Music Village Feb 06.
Hunting&Gathering (Cydonia) recorded: Litho, Seattle Oct 08; London Bridge, Shoreline Nov 08; Aleph, Seattle Jan 08.
Alice recorded: Litho, Seattle Oct 08; London Bridge, Shoreline Jan 08; Aleph, Seattle Jan 08.

Packaged in a jewel case with an extensive booklet and translucent slipcase cover.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

Barcode (On sticker on slipcase): 8 08720 01002 2
Matrix / Runout (Variant 1): 1108674 WWW.FURNACECD.COM - SUNN100 02
Mastering SID Code (Variant 1): IFPI LL29
Mould SID Code (Variant 1): IFPI QZD1
Matrix / Runout (Variant 2): 1108674 WWW.FURNACECD.COM - SUNN100 02
Mastering SID Code (Variant 2): IFPI LL29
Mould SID Code (Variant 2): ifpi 7721
Matrix / Runout (Variant 3): 1108674 WWW.FURNACECD.COM - SUNN100 02
Mastering SID Code (Variant 3): IFPI LL29
Mould SID Code (Variant 3): none

Other Versions (5 of 14)

View All

	Title (Format)	Label	Cat#	Country	Year
Recently Edited	Monoliths & Dimensions (2×12", 33 ⅓ RPM, 45 RPM, Album, Promo)	Southern Lord	SUNN100 VINYL PROMO 0509	US	2009
Recently Edited	Monoliths & Dimensions (CD, Album)	Daymare Recordings	DYMC-099	Japan	2009
Recently Edited	Monoliths & Dimensions (2×LP, Album, Gatefold, Book)	Southern Lord	sunn100	US	2009
	Monoliths & Dimensions (2×LP, Album, Package)	Southern Lord	SUNN100	US	2009
New Submission	Monoliths & Dimensions (4×File, FLAC, Album, Reissue)	Southern Lord	SUNN100	US	2013

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Reviews

g0bspeeb Jan 10, 2024
Repress please Repress please Repress please Repress please Repress please
numb3rs1x Aug 11, 2023
Testing, but this is seriously a great album. I think it's their best.
XelaWeeks Dec 27, 2015
Reissue coming January 8th!!
http://www.amazon.com/Monoliths-Dimensions-Vinyl-SUNN-o/dp/B002OHB3G2/ref=sr_1_1_twi_lp__3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1451237304&sr=1-1&keywords=monoliths+and+dimensions
drillkicker Aug 14, 2013
This is what ancient druids would be listening to if they were alive today.
itzmehall May 27, 2009
Edited 15 years ago
This is the pinnacle of Sunn O))). I cannot see how they could ever top this album. It is their most imaginative, well composed, and multi-faceted work to date. The album is an ambitious amalgam of Sunn's guitar drone with chamber ensembles, choirs, and an array of guest musicians.

Each Sunn album has had a fair share of guest musicians. However, Monoliths & Dimensions is the first to utilize each musician's contribution and flawlessly infuse them to create a greater realization of each piece of music. Oren Ambarchi and Attila Csihar have been consistent members in recent years and are also credited as "key players" on the album. Csihar's contributions are stronger and more coherent than on past albums in my opinion. The lyrics are closer to traditional vocals perhaps than the chants on past albums, but still contain an atmospheric delivery. Dylan Carlson of Earth makes an appearance on the track Big Church. He even receives credit for inspiring the choir arrangement of the track. One of the most surprising appearances is by jazz trombonist Julian Priester, an alumni of Sun Ra's Arkestra, who contributes a beautiful and human sounding melody which finalizes the last moments of the album. The most noticeable contribution however, is by Eyvind Kang and his direction of the chamber ensemble players. These arrangements add the most depth to the album and coax the music into something unique.

At times, Sunn have been negatively portrayed as a band built by hype. I can't say that I am completely in love with some of their earliest releases, but they have been progressing into more creative and ambitious ventures within the last few years. As I said at the beginning, this is most likely going to be the pinnacle of the group. This is by far the most imaginative music that Sunn has released.

Even with new found diversity, the slogan still holds true... "Maximum Volume Yields Maximum Results".