7 Skies H3

Released in October 2011, 7 Skies H3 represents the zenith of The Flaming Lips' experimental period. Originally released as a 24-hour song on flash drives encased in actual human skulls (the 24 Hour Song Skull), the project was a limited edition of 13 copies priced at $5,000 each. Musically, it is a sprawling collage of separate movements, some lasting over seven hours, stitched together into a contiguous experience. While a condensed 50-minute version was released for Record Store Day in 2014, the original 24-hour version remains a legendary piece of conceptual art. It bridges the gap between the band's melodic psych-pop and the darker, more abrasive textures found on albums like The Terror. The recording process involved the band working in isolated segments, creating a patchwork of moods that range from blissful serenity to claustrophobic anxiety. It stands as one of the longest continuous pieces of music ever released by a major rock act.