Stars of the Lid

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stars of the Lid
Background information
Origin	Belgium & Los Angeles, California, USA
Genre(s)	Drone Ambient
Years active	1986–present
Label(s)	Kranky Sedimental Sub Rosa
Associated acts	The Dead Texan, Aix Em Klemm
Website	Official site
Members
Adam Wiltzie Brian McBride
Former members
Kirk Laktas

Stars of the Lid is a duo specializing in drone-based ambient music. They list among their influences minimalist and electronic composers such as Arvo Pärt, Zbigniew Preisner, Gavin Bryars, and Henryk Górecki, as well as Talk Talk, post-rock artists Labradford, and ambient innovator Brian Eno [1]. Their songs are largely beatless soundscapes, composed of droning, effects-treated guitars along with piano, strings, and horns; volume swells and feedback fill the gap of rhythmic instruments, providing dynamic movement within the songs. Their sound has been described as "divine classical drones" without the tedious intrusion of drums or vocals.

1 Biography
2 Forthcoming releases
3 Discography
4 Compilation appearances
5 Trivia
6 External links
7 References

[edit] Biography

Formed in Austin, Texas in 1993, SOTL is composed of two members — Brian McBride and Adam Wiltzie. McBride explained in an interview^[1] that the band's name refers to "your own personal cinema, located between your eye and eyelid", suggesting the colors and patterns one can see with closed eyes. Both have released solo material, the former under his own name and the latter under the Dead Texan alias. Their most recent album, a double-LP named Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid, was released in 2001 to generally positive reviews. Adam Wiltzie now lives in Brussells, Belgium and Brian McBride in Los Angeles.

[edit] Forthcoming releases

While the band's official site has been stating that there is no news on the completion of the new record since mid-2004, one new track appeared on the Kranky Kompliation CD released 1st Nov 2004. The new track was titled Even if You're Never Awake (version), which was reminiscent of the work the duo provided for their Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid release. Brian McBride however has stated that a new record is finished and will be released on Kranky "hopefully before 2007"[2]

In December 2006 Pitchfork Media announced that a double album entitled Stars of the Lid and Their Refinement of the Decline, would be released on April 2, 2007.^[2] Set to be released as a 2xCD and 3xLP, the album leaked to the internet in mid-February 2007.

[edit] Discography

Music for Nitrous Oxide (Sedimental 1995)
Gravitational Pull vs. the Desire for an Aquatic Life (Sedimental 1996, Kranky 1997)
The Ballasted Orchestra (Kranky 1997)
Per Aspera Ad Astra (Kranky 1998)
Avec Laudenum (Sub Rosa 1999, Kranky 2002)
The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid (Kranky 2001)
Stars of the Lid and Their Refinement of the Decline (Kranky 2007)

[edit] Compilation appearances

Monsters, Robots and Bug Men - "Goodnight" (Virgin 1996)
Kompilation - "Even If You're Never Awake (Version) (Kranky 2004)

[edit] Trivia

Recording currently delayed due to McBride living in the US and Wiltzie in Belgium.
Interviews have revealed the duo to be David Lynch fans as reflected in some of their song titles: "Music For Twin Peaks Episode #30 - Part I", "Mulholland" and "Gasfarming" which begins with a sample of Big Ed Hurley.
Participated in the Ulver remix album 1993-2003: First Decade in the Machines with the song "I Love You, But I Prefer Trondheim pts 1-4".
McBride is a prominent member of the policy debating community.