The Ballasted Orchestra
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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.[1] 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.
Critical Reaction
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.
Track listing
- "Central Texas" – 3:43
- "Sun Drugs" – 12:20
- "Down II" – 1:22
- "Taphead" – 12.34
- "Fucked Up (3:57 A.M.) – 8:32
- "Music For Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part I" – 8:01
- "Music For Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part II" – 13:32
- "The Artificial Pine Arch Song" – 18:00
The LP release contained "24 Inch Cymbal", a bonus track, between "Sun Drugs" and "Down II";[2] additionally, "The Artificial Pine Arch Song" ran to 20:52 on the vinyl as opposed to 18:00 on the CD.[3] This material would not fit on a standard, 80-minute CD.
References
- ^ "Stars of the Lid: Musiques" (Flash). Retrieved June 20, 2008.
- ^ "Stars of the Lid: Music". Archived from the original on June 13, 2001. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; June 20, 2001 suggested (help); Unknown parameter|dateformat=ignored (help) - ^ "Wolf's Kompaktkiste: Stars of the Lid". Retrieved June 20, 2008.