Red Sea (album)

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The Red Sea

EP by Isis
Released	1999
Recorded	1999
Genre	Metal
Length	35:25
Label	Second Nature
Producer(s)	Isis, Kurt Ballou, Mike Hill
Satan Stole My Teddybear [1]
Isis chronology
Mosquito Control (1998)	The Red Sea (1999)	Sawblade (1999)

An expansion of the sound pioneered on the Mosquito Control EP, the Red Sea EP offers a slight evolution toward the direction Isis would begin to take with their first full length, Celestial. The three songs which make up this EP are tied together with spoken word samples from the short-lived television series Hotel Room (specifically, the third episode, entitled "Blackout" [2]). The song "Ochre" contains a sample from the film Dead Man[3] by Jim Jarmusch, and is a reading of a portion of William Blake's poem "Auguries of Innocence."

This is the only release with Jay Randall (Agoraphobic Nosebleed) on electronics and backing vocals, as he would leave the band after its release. His current and permanent replacement is Bryant Clifford Meyer.

The Red Sea also introduces two key themes in Isis' albums that would be expanded upon later: water (Oceanic) and the central female character (Celestial's "tower").

"Charmicarmicarmicat" may be a reference to the Melvins song "Charmicarmicat" (from the 1991 EP Eggnog), with an extra "carmi" added to poke fun at the general ridiculousness of the Melvins' sense of humor. This is seemingly confirmed in the liner notes, which thank "Earth, Bastard Noise and The Melvins for inspiration for track one."

Tracks 4-7 make up the initial cassette demo tape sent around to record companies as Isis were trying to get signed. Electronics are provided by former member Chris Mereschuk here.