Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 22:41:56 +0100 From: Andrew Norman Subject: Re: 3ef / Amp Frank Brinkhuis writes: >Also got AMP 'Astral Moonbeam Projections' (the double-LP, not the CD) and >although I'e only played it only once it sounds like a collection of demo's. >Anyone? I'm disappointed. The story of my experiences with Amp as a whole - formless mush to my ears, I'm afraid. On the other hand, Stars of the Lid's "The Ballasted Orchestra" has impressed me so much that when I saw the vinyl version today I bought it - there's an extra 6-minute track and the last one is three or four minutes longer than on the CD. I'm listening to it now, and it's almost unbearably beautiful. And I think the vinyl version is the "definitive" one even disregarding the extra material - the album is obviously split into four sides, unlike many modern double albums which are a 70ish minute CD split into three or four convenient chunks for vinyl release. Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 17:49:45 -0800 From: Martin Andrew Hoyt Subject: Re: We, Asphodel and some Misc reviews Jens wrote: >>One more thing. Waiting for my Stars of the Lid ep in the mail- the new >>one that is supposed to consist of limited 12in only material from >>Kranky- any comments on this and their other Kranky title? > >Do tell! I didn't know they had a second Kranky release, I'd only heard >tell of an earlier cassette. Their album "The Ballasted Orchestra" is one >of my favorites of this year, although I think technically it's from 1996. "Ballasted Orchestra" is indeed from earlier this year. I think it was released in the U.S. at the same time as "AstralMoonbeamProjections". The new SotL release on Kranky is entitled "Gravitational Pull vs. the Desire for an Aquatic Life"...or something like that. It is very much like "Ballasted Orchestra", but perhaps a bit more organic, and (IMHO) essential if you liked the previous Kranky release. The CD contains an earlier vinyl only EP + a new track (It clocks in at about 50 minutes, total). The second track (I can't recall the name) is probably my favorite ambient track of the year. It is about 17 minutes long, and has slowly building, quiet drones, until some chimes come in around the 10 minute mark. The track then slowly dissolves into rumbling bass drones which slowly fade to end the track. It's great headphone music. Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 10:37:54 -0500 From: Joshua Harmon Subject: Re: Movietone & SoTL (was: We, Asphodel and some Misc reviews) The "new" SoTL is actually from late 1995 or early 1996. The 12" version was originally released on Sedimental in an edition of 709 white vinyl copies and has four tracks: The Better Angels of Our Nation / Cantus; in Memory of Warren Wiltzie / Lactate's Moment / Be Little With Me. I'm not clear on whether or not the extra material is a new track or material that was cut from the original so it would fit on a single 12". Still, I highly recommend it--I'm not sure whether it's just because I've owned this one longer than Ballasted Orchestra or not but I definitely like it better. Joshua Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 09:28:52 -0800 From: Jens Alfke Subject: Heavy Rotation [reviews] In heavy rotation on the office discman are: Stars Of The Lid "Gravitational Pull Vs. The Desire For An Aquatic Lifestyle" -- This may be even better than "The Ballasted Orchestra". Pure groovy droning ambience you can stick a fork into. These are tracks that think nothing of spending minutes between chord changes, but they are never boring; they pull you into such a hyper-alert hypnosis that for instance the single repeated piano note that comes in at the end of "Cantus II" is absolutely thrilling and a perfect resolution to the tension set up by the previous 16 minutes. I continue to be in awe of what these two guys can do with a simple 4-track recorder and a sackful of unidentifiable but presumably garden variety musical instruments. [Kranky] Stars Of The Lid "Music For Nitrous Oxide" -- Their earliest recordings (93-94). If you're a SOTL fan you need to get this to complete your collection and you will enjoy it, although it's definitely rougher and less inspired than their subsequent releases. Otherwise you should get their other two albums first. [Sedimental] Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 14:35:37 -0700 From: Jens Alfke Subject: New yummiez at Darla... Stars of the Lid Maneuvering the Nocternal Hum 12" 11.00 Ajax Limited to only 1,000 copies in silkscreened sleeves, this is 45 mins of drone bliss similar the the works of Azuza Plane, Labradford. [@$&%*% cult of vinyl!! Guess I'll have to dig out the record player, plug it into the Mac and burn a CD of this so I'll have a chance to listen to it. Still, despite the effort, all SOTL sounds must be obsessively acquired and savored at length.] Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 07:18:12 +0100 From: Andrew Norman Subject: All Different Things Jens: > Stars of the Lid > Maneuvering the Nocternal Hum It's OK (half of it is a recording of a live show and starts very quietly - this being SOTL it gets going at a snail's pace). Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 10:41:02 -0700 From: Jens Alfke Subject: Re: TRR/fridge/azusa/roy montgomery >Also while I'm here does anyone >know where I can get hold of the 3rd SOTL album (don't know the title - >not The Ballasted Orchestra or Music For Nitrous Oxide)? "Gravitational Pull vs. The Desire For An Aquatic Life". It's on Kranky. Most of the mail order places people have enumerated over the past week should have it; I'll add a recommendation for Darla . This is a very fine album, actually their second (it was released in this form after "The Ballasted Orchestra" but compiled from two EPs that predate it) and contains five very long pieces that, for me at least, combine all the best parts of Harold Budd, Zoviet*France, Spectrum and all those usual suspects. Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 00:40:05 EDT From: Riouxs@aol.com Subject: Midweek Krankyness. Kranky has several releases lined up here at the close of summer. The Jessamine is out now, w/ SoTL & Tomorrowland due in two weeks. A few new Thrill Jockey releases noted as well as an amazing vinyl LP only by Zoppo on the Blackbean label. STARS OF THE LID/JON MCCAFFERTY - Per Aspera Ad Astra CD (Kranky 028) $11.50 DUE FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 15TH. "The unique pairing of the tonal feedback duo Stars of the Lid and NYC minimalist line painter Jon McCafferty. McCafferty (best known for the cover art of R.E.M.'s Green album) approached Stars of the Lid in the summer of 1995. McCafferty had sone a series of paintings influenced by Stars of the Lid's Music For Nitrous Oxide. After discovering the similarity in McCafferty's paintings to the colors of sound in Stars of the Lid, Adam Wiltzie contacted McCafferty and collaboration began. In an attempt to blur the distinctions between the mediums, Wiltzie has incorporated the sounds of Jon McCafferty painting in his studio into the music. In arranging this recording, the acts of the visual artist have become sound worthy -- they determine a context and become music." Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 18:47:50 -0400 From: GuerillaG2-G4 Subject: | Mika Vainio | Stars of the Lid | STARS OF THE LID/JON McCAFFERTY Per Aspera Ad Astra Kranky McCafferty is an 'experimental line painter' (see the cover of REM's _Green_) and a behind-the-scenes presence at NYC's famed Other Music shop. Stars of The Lid are widely hailed as the premier Stateside sound-spinners. In this unlikely syzygy, SoTL interpret McCafferty's movements while at work in his studio, and McCafferty creates an original piece of artwork (the album's cover) under the influence of SoTL's interpretations. With recordings from McCafferty's studio woven into the Stars' rich drone and the Stars' musical flux inspiring McCafferty's artwork, _Per Aspera Ad Astra_ is that rarest of prospects - the pefect commingling of artistic consciousnesses. SoTL broaden their palette to include strings ("Anchor State: Part One") and offer their tenderest and most melody-saturated suite of transcendental womb-works to date. =20 Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 21:04:58 -0000 From: Andrew Norman Subject: Turntables and recent albums Stars of the Lid & Jon McCafferty - Per Aspera ad Astra The Stars of the Lid album is two 3-part suites, each 20 minutes, and I think is possibly their best, especially the first part of "Anchor States" with a cello drone. There's not much to choose between SotL releases, basically they have their thing (s l o w droning) and do it superbly but if you aren't into that sort of thing it's probably very boring. Ideal music for Sunday evenings lying in front of the fire. From: G McEwen Subject: Re: Newish AMP stuf etc. Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 05:59:16 -0800 (PST) > > Ditto Stars Of the Lid -- they have a new album too. > > Released at much the same time - two 20-minute 3-piece suites, which > won't surprise anyone who has heard previous albums, but I think > refine the sound further. I certainly agree, although one suprise might be the overt use of cellos on Anchor States pt1. Truly beautiful - dark resonant tones which blend perfectly with the more familiar SOTL sound. SOTL seem keen to stress the collarborative nature of this project - with painter Jon McCafferty. The album cover does seem evocative of the sound, and vice versa. Apparently, also, the sounds of him painting are incorporated into the music. One other comment - I've found that at times the sound level is so low that LP surface noise starts to intrude. Not that much of a problem really, and no problem with the CD I expect.