DYLAN CARLSON 'Conquistador'

Debut solo album from DYLAN CARLSON, drone metal pioneer and founding member of the iconic band Earth. CARLSON’s musical explorations can be traced back to his pioneering work with the minimalist ensemble Earth, from the groundbreaking drone metal of 'Earth2' to the ominous instrumental twang of 'Hex; Or Printing In The Infernal Method'. Untethered from the collaborative nature of the band, CARLSON veered away from American music and motifs and dug into English folklore and song traditions for his solo work under the moniker of DYLAN CARLSON. For his first full-length as the solo artist DYLAN CARLSON, the guitarist returns west. In many ways, 'Conquistador' harkens back to 'Hex'. Whereas the Earth album set out to score the historical fiction of Cormac McCarthy’s examination of white settlers’ horrific campaign against Native Americans in Blood Meridian, 'Conquistador' bypasses the intermediary narrative of a novelist. CARLSON has long been heralded as a master of minimalism, and this full-length demonstrates his ability to craft compelling symphonic compositions while exercising extreme musical frugality. 'Conquistador' was recorded at God City Studios with Kurt Ballou during a weeklong break in CARLSON’s solo tour 2016. The material had been gestating for months, and CARLSON viewed the session as an opportunity to create music between Earth albums as well as a chance to collaborate with Emma Ruth Rundle, who contributed baritone & slide guitar, and his wife Holly Carlson, who contributed percussion & whose picture graces the cover of the album.