- 0:00 Song begins in A sharp
- 0:41 synthesized “wee wee” sound
- 0:45 wind-like sound starts
- 4:04 chord change to A
- 4:08 return to A sharp
- 4:15 chord change to D
- 4:19 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 4:23 return to A sharp
- 4:37 chord change to A
- 4:41 return to A sharp
- 4:51 chord change to D
- 4:53 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 4:57 return to A sharp
- 5:13 chord change to A
- 5:18 return to A sharp
- 5:27 chord change to D
- 5:31 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 5:36 return to A sharp
- 5:51 chord change to A, with louder guitar and more wind
- 5:55 return to A sharp
- 6:03 chord change to D
- 6:07 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 6:11 return to A sharp
- 6:27 chord change to A, with wind at a higher pitch
- 6:31 return to A sharp
- 6:39 chord change to D
- 6:42 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 6:47 return to A sharp
- 6:59 chord change to A
- 7:03 return to A sharp
- 7:10 chord change to D
- 7:13 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 7:18 return to A sharp
- 7:31 chord change to A
- 7:35 return to A sharp
- 7:45 chord change to D
- 7:48 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 7:52 return to A sharp
- 8:06 chord change to A
- 8:10 return to A sharp
- 8:17 chord change to D
- 8:21 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 8:25 return to A sharp
- 8:29 to 8:37 higher-pitched synthesized (sounds like the wind blowing)
- 8:38 chord change to A
- 8:42 return to A sharp
- 8:48 chord change to D
- 8:52 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 8:57 return to A sharp
- 9:10 chord change to A
- 9:15 return to A sharp 9;27 chord change to A
- 9:32 return to A sharp; a lower murmur begins
- 9:40 chord change to A; higher wind-like sound
- 9:45 return to A sharp; lower murmur
- 9:53 chord change to A
- 9:58 return to A sharp; lower murmur
- 10:10 chord change to A
- 10:14 return to A sharp
- 10:26 chord change to A
- 10:30 return to A sharp
- 10:41 chord change to A
- 10:45 return to A sharp
- 10:56 chord change to A
- 11:01 return to A sharp
- 11:03 higher-pitched synthesized sound begins
- 11:12 chord change to A
- 11:17 return to A sharp (with low murmur)
- 11:22 to 11:28 More low murmuring
- 11:28 chord change to A
- 11:32 return to A sharp
- 11:37 to 11:42 distorted medium tone murmuring
- 11:43 chord change to A
- 11:47 return to A sharp
- 11:58 chord change to A
- 12:02 return to A sharp
- 12:08 to 12:12 more low murmuring
- 12:12 chord change to A
- 12:18 return to A sharp
- 12:30 chord change to A
- 12:34 return to A sharp
- 12:43 slightly higher-pitched wheezy sound
- 12:47 chord change to A
- 12:51 return to A sharp
- 13:03 chord change to A
- 13:07 return to A sharp
- 13:13 to 13:18 still another slightly muffled mid-lower murmur
- 13:18 chord change to A
- 13:22 return to A sharp
- 13:32 chord change to A
- 13:36 return to A sharp
- 13:43 higher distorted wind sound
- 13:47 chord change to A
- 13:51 return to A sharp
- 14:00 higher sound (wee wee)
- 14:03 chord change to A
- 14:07 return to A sharp
- 14:18 chord change to A
- 14:22 return to A sharp
- 14:30 higher sound (wee wee)
- 14:34 chord change to A
- 14:38 return to A sharp
- 14:45 higher sound (wee wee)
- 14:50 chord change to A
- 14:54 return to A sharp
- 15:05 chord change to A
- 15:10 return to A sharp
- 15:26 standard guitar riff stops; just humming noise now
- 15:31 high wind sound
- 15:33 different type of riff starts
- 15:42 chord change to D
- 15:43 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure) but faster this time
- 15:45 return to A sharp
- 15:50 chord change to A
- 15:51 return to A sharp (faster this time)
- 15:54 bass chord (sounds like) to E
- 15:57 return to A sharp
- 16:06 chord change to D
- 16:08 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure) but faster this time
- 16:10 return to A sharp
- 16:15 chord change to A
- 16:16 return to A sharp (faster this time)
- 16:19 chord change to E (louder riff)
- 16:23 return to A sharp
- 16:23 to 16:31 repeated quicker, louder riffs (humming returns to background)
- 16:33 chord change to D
- 16:35 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure) but faster this time
- 16:37 return to A sharp
- 16:42 chord change to A
- 16:44 return to A sharp (faster this time)
- 16:47 chord change to E
- 16:51 return to A sharp
- 17:00 chord change to D
- 17:02 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 17:04 return to A sharp
- 17:09 chord change to A
- 17:12 return to A sharp
- 17:15 chord change to E (with wind sound)
- 17:18 return to A sharp
- 17:22 higher wind sound
- 17:25 lower murmur joins the higher wind sound
- 17:29 chord change to D
- 17:30 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 17:32 return to A sharp
- 17:38 chord change to A
- 17:39 return to A sharp
- 17:43 chord change to E
- 17:46 return to A sharp
- 17:46 to 17:56 faster guitar riffs
- 17:56 chord change to D
- 17:58 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 18:00 return to A sharp
- 18:04 chord change to A
- 18:07 return to A sharp
- 18:10 chord change to E
- 18:13 return to A sharp
- 18:13 to 18:23 faster guitar riffs
- 18:23 chord change to D
- 18:25 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 18:27 return to A sharp
- 18:32 chord change to A
- 18:33 return to A sharp
- 18:37 chord change to E
- 18:40 return to A sharp
- 18:50 chord change to D
- 18:52 chord change to C (or C sharp, not sure)
- 18:54 return to A sharp
- 18:55 high wind sound starts
- 18:59 chord change to A
- 19:01 return to A sharp Overall volume starts lowering
- 19:05 chord change to E
- 19:08 return to A sharp
- 19:12 wind sound
- 19:16 track fades out
credit for the masterful analytics go to 1234tomh in the youtube comment section of that video. While it may seem like an insincere joke I think that the comment does a very good job at accurately describing the lack of structure in this song – as apposed to the presence of a formulated verse/chorus structure that we as musicians have become very used to.
the band Sunn O))) from Seattle are at the foreground of quite a niche genre that blends elements of drone and ambient music with the dark aesthetic of doom metal. A good example of this side of their influence is also from the slower, grungier stoner-metal with bands like Electric Wizard pioneering new sounds with tempos that feel as though you’re walking through very thick mud. This is a similar effect I get from the complete lack of structure and rhythm from the song Black Wedding – a choice which may have hailed from the more ambient, soundscape area of their influence.
Despite seemingly having very little song structure, Sunn O))) do incorporate structural ideas in the way that they create texture within melody, harmony and instrumentation. While they may ‘lack’ in rhythmical song structure they show a great understanding of how different constructions of sounds can create a soundscape that still gives the idea of a formulated song structure – despite the absence of rhythm or lyrics.
This idea of structure being created by moving textures and harmony reminded me of New Space Music by Brian Eno – again attesting to the bands versatility and eclectic influences. Throughout this project Eno has an admirable disregard for time and structure, which aids the piece become timeless – like some kind of middle ground where you are unsure if it’d be better to turn back or carry on moving forward. This is quite similar to Sunn O))) however in their case it feels a lot more like a hellish purgatory as apposed to timeless space.