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{{Infobox album
{{Infobox Album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
| Name = The Ballasted Orchestra
| name = The Ballasted Orchestra
| Type = studio
| type = studio
| Artist = [[Stars of the Lid]]
| artist = [[Stars of the Lid]]
| Cover = The_Ballasted_Orchestra.jpg
| cover = The_Ballasted_Orchestra.jpg
| alt =
| Released = {{Start date|1997|3|10}}
| Recorded = East Austin, Texas
| released = March 10, 1997
| recorded = East Austin, Texas
| Genre = [[Ambient music|Ambient]]<br>[[drone]]
| Length = 78:04
| venue =
| Label = [[Kranky]]
| studio =
| Producer = [[Brian_McBride_%28artist%29|Brian McBride]],[[ Adam Wiltzie]]
| genre = [[Ambient music|Ambient]], [[Drone music|drone]]
| length = 78:04
| Reviews = *[[Allmusic]] {{rating-5|4}} [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:acfrxquhldae link]
| label = [[Kranky (record label)|Kranky]]
| Last album = '''''[[Gravitational Pull vs. the Desire for an Aquatic Life]]''''' (1996)
| producer = [[Adam Wiltzie]] and [[Brian McBride (musician)|Brian McBride]]
| This album = '''''The Ballasted Orchestra''''' (1997)
| prev_title = [[Gravitational Pull vs. the Desire for an Aquatic Life]]
| Next album = '''''[[Per_Aspera_Ad_Astra_%28album%29|Per Aspera Ad Astra]]''''' (1998)
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = Maneuvering the Nocturnal Hum
| next_year = 1998
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r258548|pure_url=yes}}|title=''The Ballasted Orchestra''|author= Stephen Cook|publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=January 15, 2012}}</ref>
| rev2 = [[Pitchfork Media]]
| rev2Score = (8.5/10)<ref name="PM">{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Richardson |title=Stars of the Lid: The Ballasted Orchestra: Album Reviews |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17508-the-ballasted-orchestra/ |date=10 January 2013 |accessdate=11 January 2013}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''''The Ballasted Orchestra''''' is the third studio album by [[Stars of the Lid]] and their first to have its initial release on [[Kranky Records]]. It was released simultaneously as a double LP and a single CD, though the vinyl is now out of print.<ref name=cite_note-0>{{cite web |url=http://www.brainwashed.com/sotl/musiques.html |title=Stars of the Lid: Musiques |format=Flash |accessmonthday=June 20 |accessyear=2008}}</ref> The album features minimal, droning compositions, of varied length, some of which blend into each other. The track "Taphead" is a reference to the [[Talk Talk]] song of the same name while "Music for [[Twin Peaks]] Episode #30" parts I and II were named as a tribute to the cult TV show.
'''''The Ballasted Orchestra''''' is the third studio album by [[Stars of the Lid]] and their first to have its initial release on [[Kranky (record label)|Kranky]]. It was released simultaneously as a double LP and a single CD in March 1997. The album features minimal, droning compositions, of varied length, some of which blend into each other. The track "Taphead" is a reference to the [[Talk Talk]] song of the same name while "Music for [[Twin Peaks]] Episode #30 Part I" and "Part II" are named as a tribute to the cult TV show.


The double vinyl album was out-of-print for years, until a remastered reissue was released by Kranky on January 7, 2013. The LP release contains the bonus track "24 Inch Cymbal" at the end of side A.<ref name=cite_note-1>{{cite web |url=http://www.brainwashed.com/sotl/music.html |title=Stars of the Lid: Music |accessdate=June 20, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010620164636/http://brainwashed.com/sotl/music.html |archivedate=June 20, 2001 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Additionally, "The Artificial Pine Arch Song" runs 20:52 long on vinyl, as opposed to 18:00 on the CD.<ref name=cite_note-2>{{cite web |url=http://www.kompaktkiste.de/stars_of_the_lid.htm#krank015 |title=Wolf's Kompaktkiste: Stars of the Lid |accessdate=June 20, 2008}}</ref> This material would not fit on a standard, 80-minute CD.
==Critical Reaction==


==Critical reaction==
The album was generally praised by critics. Stephen Cook, writing for [[Allmusic]], stated: {{cquote|Taking in such ambient milestones as Brian Eno's Apollo recording, Stars of the Lid's Brian McBride and Adam Wiltzie fashion eight floating gems with touches of industrial noise and movie soundtrack atmospherics. No drums or clanging guitars here, just darkish, elegiac slabs of ethereal sound taking up 12 to 18 minutes at a pop. The overall effect is both calming and provocative.}}
The album was generally praised by critics. Stephen Cook, writing for [[AllMusic]], stated: "Taking in such ambient milestones as [[Brian Eno]]'s ''[[Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks|Apollo]]'' recording, Stars of the Lid's Brian McBride and Adam Wiltzie fashion eight floating gems with touches of industrial noise and movie soundtrack atmospherics. No drums or clanging guitars here, just darkish, elegiac slabs of ethereal sound taking up 12 to 18 minutes at a pop. The overall effect is both calming and provocative."<ref name="AMG"/>

Writing on its 25th anniversary, music journalist Daryl Worthington wrote that "It’s the sonic antithesis of a life hack, fragments of melody or lush timbral collisions tangling through each other in moves that never seem linear. The music isn’t formless, but it floats atop a spectacularly unsettled ictus.".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Quietus {{!}} Features {{!}} Anniversary {{!}} Stars Of The Lid: The Ballasted Orchestra 25 Years On |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/31235-stars-of-the-lid-the-ballasted-orchestra |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=The Quietus |language=en-us}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
===CD release===
{{tracklist
| collapsed =
| headline =
| all_writing = Adam Wiltzie and Brian McBride
| writing_credits =
| title1 = Central Texas
| length1 = 3:43
| title2 = Sun Drugs
| length2 = 12:20
| title3 = Down II
| length3 = 1:22
| title4 = Taphead
| length4 = 12:34
| title5 = Fucked Up (3:57 A.M.)
| length5 = 8:32
| title6 = Music for Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part I
| length6 = 8:01
| title7 = Music for Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part II
| length7 = 13:32
| title8 = The Artificial Pine Arch Song
| length8 = 18:00
}}


===Double vinyl release===
#"Central Texas" – 3:43
{{tracklist
#"Sun Drugs" – 12:20
| headline = Side One
#"Down II" – 1:22
| title1 = Central Texas
#"Taphead" – 12.34
| length1 = 3:43
#"Fucked Up (3:57 A.M.) – 8:32
| title2 = Sun Drugs
#"Music For Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part I" – 8:01
| length2 = 12:20
#"Music For Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part II" – 13:32
| title3 = 24 Inch Cymbal
#"The Artificial Pine Arch Song" – 18:00
| length3 = 6:01

}}
The LP release contained "24 Inch Cymbal", a bonus track, between "Sun Drugs" and "Down II";<ref name=cite_note-1>{{cite web
{{tracklist
|url=http://www.brainwashed.com/sotl/music.html
| headline = Side Two
|title=Stars of the Lid: Music
| title1 = Down II
|accessmonthday=June 20
| length1 = 1:22
|accessyear=2008
| title2 = Taphead
|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20010620164636/brainwashed.com/sotl/music.html
| length2 = 12:34
|archivedate=June 13, 2001
| title3 = Fucked Up (3:57 A.M.)
}}</ref> additionally, "The Artificial Pine Arch Song" ran to 20:52 on the vinyl as opposed to 18:00 on the CD.<ref name=cite_note-2>{{cite web |url=http://www.kompaktkiste.de/stars_of_the_lid.htm#krank015 |title=Wolf's Kompaktkiste: Stars of the Lid |accessmonthday=June 20 |accessyear=2008}}</ref> This material would not fit on a standard, 80-minute CD.
| length3 = 8:32
}}
{{tracklist
| headline = Side Three
| title1 = Music for Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part I
| length1 = 8:01
| title2 = Music for Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part II
| length2 = 13:32
}}
{{tracklist
| headline = Side Four
| title1 = The Artificial Pine Arch Song
| length1 = 18:00
| title2 = Untitled
| note2 = omitted on vinyl reissues
| length2 = 2:52
}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>

{{Stars of the Lid}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballasted Orchestra, The}}
[[Category:1997 albums]]
[[Category:1997 albums]]
[[Category:Stars of the Lid albums]]
[[Category:Stars of the Lid albums]]
[[Category:Kranky Records albums]]
[[Category:Kranky (record label) albums]]
[[Category:1990s instrumental albums]]
[[Category:Post-rock albums by American artists]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Adam Wiltzie]]

Latest revision as of 18:49, 11 September 2024

The Ballasted Orchestra
Studio album by
Stars of the Lid
ReleasedMarch 10, 1997
RecordedEast Austin, Texas
GenreAmbient, drone
Length78:04
LabelKranky
ProducerAdam Wiltzie and Brian McBride
Stars of the Lid chronology
Gravitational Pull vs. the Desire for an Aquatic Life
(1996) 		The Ballasted Orchestra
(1997) 		Maneuvering the Nocturnal Hum
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Pitchfork Media(8.5/10)[2]

The Ballasted Orchestra is the third studio album by Stars of the Lid and their first to have its initial release on Kranky. It was released simultaneously as a double LP and a single CD in March 1997. The album features minimal, droning compositions, of varied length, some of which blend into each other. The track "Taphead" is a reference to the Talk Talk song of the same name while "Music for Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part I" and "Part II" are named as a tribute to the cult TV show.

The double vinyl album was out-of-print for years, until a remastered reissue was released by Kranky on January 7, 2013. The LP release contains the bonus track "24 Inch Cymbal" at the end of side A.[3] Additionally, "The Artificial Pine Arch Song" runs 20:52 long on vinyl, as opposed to 18:00 on the CD.[4] This material would not fit on a standard, 80-minute CD.

Critical reaction

[edit]

The album was generally praised by critics. Stephen Cook, writing for AllMusic, stated: "Taking in such ambient milestones as Brian Eno's Apollo recording, Stars of the Lid's Brian McBride and Adam Wiltzie fashion eight floating gems with touches of industrial noise and movie soundtrack atmospherics. No drums or clanging guitars here, just darkish, elegiac slabs of ethereal sound taking up 12 to 18 minutes at a pop. The overall effect is both calming and provocative."[1]

Writing on its 25th anniversary, music journalist Daryl Worthington wrote that "It’s the sonic antithesis of a life hack, fragments of melody or lush timbral collisions tangling through each other in moves that never seem linear. The music isn’t formless, but it floats atop a spectacularly unsettled ictus.".[5]

Track listing

[edit]

CD release

[edit]

All tracks are written by Adam Wiltzie and Brian McBride

No.TitleLength
1."Central Texas"3:43
2."Sun Drugs"12:20
3."Down II"1:22
4."Taphead"12:34
5."Fucked Up (3:57 A.M.)"8:32
6."Music for Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part I"8:01
7."Music for Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part II"13:32
8."The Artificial Pine Arch Song"18:00

Double vinyl release

[edit]
Side One
No.TitleLength
1."Central Texas"3:43
2."Sun Drugs"12:20
3."24 Inch Cymbal"6:01
Side Two
No.TitleLength
1."Down II"1:22
2."Taphead"12:34
3."Fucked Up (3:57 A.M.)"8:32
Side Three
No.TitleLength
1."Music for Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part I"8:01
2."Music for Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part II"13:32
Side Four
No.TitleLength
1."The Artificial Pine Arch Song"18:00
2."Untitled" (omitted on vinyl reissues)2:52

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Stephen Cook. "The Ballasted Orchestra". AllMusic. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  2. ^ Richardson, Mark (10 January 2013). "Stars of the Lid: The Ballasted Orchestra: Album Reviews". Pitchfork. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Stars of the Lid: Music". Archived from the original on June 20, 2001. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
  4. ^ "Wolf's Kompaktkiste: Stars of the Lid". Retrieved June 20, 2008.
  5. ^ "The Quietus | Features | Anniversary | Stars Of The Lid: The Ballasted Orchestra 25 Years On". The Quietus. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
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