It's Understood

Infobox Album |
Name = It's Understood
Type = Album
Artist = Estradasphere


Released = June 26, 2000
Recorded = 1999 at ROHYPONOL_Studios911
Genre = Experimental music
Length = 74:57
Label = Mimicry
Producer = Tim Smolens
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:84rv281i053a link]
Last album =
This album = "It's Understood"
(2001)
Next album = "The Silent Elk of Yesterday"
(2001)

"It's Understood" is Estradasphere's first studio album. It was released on Mimicry Records on June 26, 2000.

Notably, the first track on the album, "Hunger Strike", sets the tone of Estradasphere by covering a wide range of musical genres. The song is just less than twenty minutes long and is the longest studio recording of an Estradasphere song.

Tracks 6-9 are songs that form the four part composition titled "The Princes of Xibalba".

Tracks 2 and 11 are not performed, but electronically sequenced by Tim Smolens and parody the music from popular video games such as Super Mario Bros.

Track 12 was recorded at a violin recital for Estradasphere member Timb Harris. All other tracks were recorded at ROHYPONOL_Studios911 in 1999.

Track listing

# "Hunger Strike" (Jason Schimmel and Estradasphere) – 19:30
# "Cloud Land" (Tim Smolens) – 1:04
# "The Transformation" (Schimmel) – 8:25
# "Danse of Tosho and Slavi/Randy's Desert Adventure" (John Whooley and Schimmel) (Lyrics by David Murray) – 7:29
# "The Trials and Tribulations of Parking On Your Front Lawn" (Public Domain) – 4:14
#: "The Princes of Xibalba" – 11:28
# "The Princes" (Smolens) – 2:24
# "Los Dias Sin Dias" (Smolens) – 2:52
# "XQuiQ" (Smolens) – 2:43
# "Hunnahpu and Xbalanque" (Smolens) – 3:29
#:

# "Spreading The Disease" (Murray, Smolens and G. Light) – 8:10
# "Planet Sparkle/Court Yard Battle 1" (Smolens) – 2:21
# "D♭ Hell" (Whooley and Schimmel) – 12:16

Album credits

The band

*David Murray – drums, didgeridoo, flute, jaminator, vocals
*Tim Smolens – bass, throat, vocals, keyboard
*Jason Schimmel – guitars, banjo, piano, vocals
*John Whooley – saxophones, vocals, percussion
*Timb Harris – violin, trumpet, mandolin, vocals

Additional musicians

*Aaron Seeman – accordion on tracks 1, 4, 5
*MonoMan (TM) – positive feedback on track 12
*Joel Robinow – lead vocals on track 3
*Luke Kirley – trombone on track 3
*George – mystery rap on track 3

Estradasphere circus

*Atrocity & the Death Metal Cheerleaders
*Gren Enyan – Yoga & Spiritual Advisor
*David Poznanter – Balloons, Unicycle & Juggling
*MonoMan (TM) – Disease Transmission
*Soren – Gorilla Suit Guy
*Kim – Chair Massage
*Erin Wood – Pentagram & Sword
*James Vergon – Fan That Wouldn't Go Away
*Iris – Belly Dancing
*George – Book
*Isaac & Jessica – Fire Dancers

Other contributions

Audio

*Produced and Engineered by Tim Smolens
*Mixed by Tim Smolens and Trey Spruance
*Mastered by George Horn, February 2000

Various

*Art Direction – David Murray
*Cover Design – Arena Reed
*Design Assist – Margaret Murray
*Cover Photo – Joey Ryken
*Burning Man Stage – James Vergen
*Group Photos – Greg Enyart & Janette Jancovicova
*MonoMan (TM) – David Murray
*Death Metal Cheerleaders – Naiya C.
*Spreading the Disease – David Murray

Miscellanea

*The "mystery rap" George performs on track 3 ("The Transformation") can be seen on Estradasphere's video release "These Are the Days" as George is sitting in a hot tub. For the track, these vocals were heavily filtered and barely understandable, but in the video, the original vocals are clear.
*The introduction and title to "The Transformation" come from a home video made by members of the Estradasphere circus. The video can be seen on "These Are The Days".
*The sound clip at the end of "The Transformation" comes from the Rob Reiner mockumentary film "This Is Spinal Tap". The clip is heard after Dave Murray performs a drum solo while the clip itself refers to one of many drummers from the fictional band Spinal Tap who seemingly and spontaneously combust.