Mosquito Control
Encyclopedia
The Mosquito Control EP is the first studio release by American post-metal
band Isis
, released in 1998 by Escape Artist. The piece runs fluently through all 29 minutes, and all four songs are linked through consistent bouts of chaos and lyrics glued by the metaphor of insect swarms for the failure of a human relationship.
The Mosquito Control EP introduces Isis's first major theme, the mosquito
. The reissue of this EP features cover art depicting control towers (the central theme of Celestial).
Although it represents Isis' first studio release, it is actually their third recording as a group after two demo productions, and was the last recording containing early band members. As such, “[t]here are things on this record that certainly would not been written were it not for those people, and it represented a set of voices that was no longer apparent in the subsequent recordings.” Sonically, Aaron Turner
feels that Isis “were starting to find [their] voice” with the release, citing “Life Under the Swatter” as “the beginning of a path on which we would synthesize heavy riffing with complex rhythmic patterns and textural/subdued passages”.
The recording process cost as little as $600 and lasted between three and four days. The first mix was deemed of insufficient quality, so a remastering was undertaken.
Other personnel
Post-metal
Post-metal is a music genre, a mixture between the genres of post-rock and heavy metal.Hydra Head Records owner and Isis frontman Aaron Turner originally termed the genre "thinking man's metal", demonstrating that his band was trying to move away from common metal conventions...
band Isis
Isis (band)
Isis was a Los Angeles, California-based post-metal band, founded in Boston, Massachusetts, with a career spanning from 1997 to 2010...
, released in 1998 by Escape Artist. The piece runs fluently through all 29 minutes, and all four songs are linked through consistent bouts of chaos and lyrics glued by the metaphor of insect swarms for the failure of a human relationship.
The Mosquito Control EP introduces Isis's first major theme, the mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
. The reissue of this EP features cover art depicting control towers (the central theme of Celestial).
Although it represents Isis' first studio release, it is actually their third recording as a group after two demo productions, and was the last recording containing early band members. As such, “[t]here are things on this record that certainly would not been written were it not for those people, and it represented a set of voices that was no longer apparent in the subsequent recordings.” Sonically, Aaron Turner
Aaron Turner
Aaron Turner is a musician, singer, graphic artist, and founder of label Hydra Head Records. He is most widely known for his role as guitarist and vocalist for the post-metal band Isis, while also participating in several other bands and projects such as Old Man Gloom and Lotus Eaters.Though raised...
feels that Isis “were starting to find [their] voice” with the release, citing “Life Under the Swatter” as “the beginning of a path on which we would synthesize heavy riffing with complex rhythmic patterns and textural/subdued passages”.
The recording process cost as little as $600 and lasted between three and four days. The first mix was deemed of insufficient quality, so a remastering was undertaken.
Track listing
Personnel
Band members- Jeff CaxideJeff CaxideJeff Caxide is an American bassist, best known for his time with post-metal band Isis, of which he was a founding member and present until its dissolution in 2010. He was also a founding member of Red Sparowes, but left after the release of their first full-length. He also contributed to...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Aaron HarrisAaron Harris (Isis drummer)Aaron Harris is an American drummer, best known for his career with Los Angeles, California-based post-metal band Isis. He was with the band from its inception in 1997 to its dissolution in 2010...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Chris Mereschuk – electronics, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Aaron TurnerAaron TurnerAaron Turner is a musician, singer, graphic artist, and founder of label Hydra Head Records. He is most widely known for his role as guitarist and vocalist for the post-metal band Isis, while also participating in several other bands and projects such as Old Man Gloom and Lotus Eaters.Though raised...
– guitar, vocals, design, assembly
Other personnel
- Kurt BallouKurt BallouKurt Ballou is the guitarist from Massachusetts-based band Converge. Aside from his role in Converge, he is a prolific producer, engineering and producing out of his own Godcity studio.- GodCity studio :...
– audio engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, producingRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Dave Merullo – mastering, audio editingAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...