Stars of the Lid
Encyclopedia
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
(both bands have tracks named "Taphead"), post-rock
artists Labradford
, and ambient innovator Brian Eno
.
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 drone without the tedious intrusion of drums or vocals".
, in 1993, SOTL is composed of two members — Brian McBride
and Adam Wiltzie
. McBride explained in an interview 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 (either phosphenes or closed-eye hallucination
s). Both have released solo material, the former under his own name and the latter under The Dead Texan
alias. Their two most recent releases have been triple LPs released to generally positive reviews. Adam Wiltzie currently lives in Brussels, Belgium and Brian McBride in Los Angeles, USA.
.
In 2007 Stars of the Lid performed in England
, Ireland
, France
, Spain
, Italy
, Portugal
, Czech Republic
, Germany
, Switzerland
, Belgium
and Holland.
Throughout their European tour, they were joined live by a string trio featuring Lucinda Chua of Felix
on cello
, Noura Sanatian on violin
and Ela Baruch on viola
.
Their tour of North America
was from mid-April to May 2008. Their North American line-up included Julia Kent
on cello
.
A teaser for an upcoming Stars of the Lid feature film has since surfaced on the internet: http://vimeo.com/1847116
Others:
Split releases
Compilation appearances
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
. They list among their influences minimalist
Minimalist music
Minimal music is a style of music associated with the work of American composers La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass. It originated in the New York Downtown scene of the 1960s and was initially viewed as a form of experimental music called the New York Hypnotic School....
and electronic composers such as Arvo Pärt
Arvo Pärt
Arvo Pärt is an Estonian classical composer and one of the most prominent living composers of sacred music. Since the late 1970s, Pärt has worked in a minimalist style that employs his self-made compositional technique, tintinnabuli. His music also finds its inspiration and influence from...
, Zbigniew Preisner
Zbigniew Preisner
Zbigniew Preisner is a Polish film score composer, best known for his work with film director Krzysztof Kieślowski.-Life:Zbigniew Preisner studied history and philosophy in Kraków. Never having received formal music lessons, he taught himself music by listening and transcribing parts from records....
, Gavin Bryars
Gavin Bryars
Richard Gavin Bryars is an English composer and double bassist. He has been active in, or has produced works in, a variety of styles of music, including jazz, free improvisation, minimalism, historicism, experimental music, avant-garde and neoclassicism.-Early life and career:Born in Goole, East...
, and Henryk Górecki
Henryk Górecki
Henryk Mikołaj Górecki was a composer of contemporary classical music. He studied at the State Higher School of Music in Katowice between 1955 and 1960. In 1968, he joined the faculty and rose to provost before resigning in 1979. Górecki became a leading figure of the Polish avant-garde during...
, as well as Talk Talk
Talk Talk
Talk Talk were an English musical group, active from 1981 to 1991. The group had a string of international hit singles including "Today", "Talk Talk", "It's My Life", "Such a Shame", "Dum Dum Girl", "Life's What You Make It" and "Living in Another World"....
(both bands have tracks named "Taphead"), post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
artists Labradford
Labradford
Labradford is a U.S. post-rock musical group from Richmond, Virginia, founded in 1991. They have released six full albums from 1993 to 2001. Though not officially disbanded, its members have since been active with separate projects.-Biography:...
, and ambient innovator Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
.
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 drone without the tedious intrusion of drums or vocals".
Biography
Formed in Austin, TexasAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, in 1993, SOTL is composed of two members — Brian McBride
Brian McBride (artist)
Brian Edward McBride is a musician best known as one half of the duo Stars of the Lid. He has also released two solo albums, When The Detail Lost Its Freedom and The Effective Disconnect on Kranky Records using his own name. McBride moved to Austin, Texas in 1990 where he met Adam Wiltzie, forming...
and Adam Wiltzie
Adam Wiltzie
Adam Wiltzie is a composer and sound engineer. Although he may be best known for founding the seminal ambient classical projects Stars of the Lid, The Dead Texan, and Aix Em Klemm, he also has recorded, played, and worked as a live sound engineer for famed groups such as The Flaming Lips, Mercury...
. McBride explained in an interview 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 (either phosphenes or closed-eye hallucination
Closed-eye hallucination
Closed-eye hallucinations and closed-eye visualizations are a distinct class of hallucination. These types of hallucinations generally only occur when one's eyes are closed or when one is in a darkened room. They are a form of phosphene....
s). Both have released solo material, the former under his own name and the latter under The Dead Texan
The Dead Texan
The Dead Texan is an audio-visual musical duo comprising Adam Wiltzie and Greek video artist Christina Vantzou. Wiltzie is better known as one half of the ambient project Stars of the Lid...
alias. Their two most recent releases have been triple LPs released to generally positive reviews. Adam Wiltzie currently lives in Brussels, Belgium and Brian McBride in Los Angeles, USA.
Recent activity
On April 7, 2007, Stars of the Lid released triple LP, double CD album Stars of the Lid and Their Refinement of the DeclineStars of the Lid and Their Refinement of the Decline
And Their Refinement of the Decline is the seventh studio LP by Stars of the Lid, which was released on the Kranky Label in April 2007. The album features minimal, droning compositions of varied length created from treated guitar, horn, piano, and other classical instruments.The track "Dopamine...
.
In 2007 Stars of the Lid performed in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Holland.
Throughout their European tour, they were joined live by a string trio featuring Lucinda Chua of Felix
Felix (band)
Felix are a British musical group whose current band members include Lucinda Chua, Chris Summerlin and Elv Beetham. In 2009, Felix signed to Chicago based label Kranky Records following support from Ambient Music band Stars of the Lid...
on cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
, Noura Sanatian on violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and Ela Baruch on viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
.
Their tour of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
was from mid-April to May 2008. Their North American line-up included Julia Kent
Julia Kent
Julia Kent is a New York City-based, Canadian-born cellist who is best known as an original member of the all-cello group Rasputina, and later on as a member of Antony and the Johnsons....
on cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
.
A teaser for an upcoming Stars of the Lid feature film has since surfaced on the internet: http://vimeo.com/1847116
Discography
Albums- 1995: Music for Nitrous OxideMusic for Nitrous OxideMusic for Nitrous Oxide is the first studio album released by Stars of the Lid on Sedimental Records in 1995. The album features minimal, droning compositions of varying length...
- 1996: Gravitational Pull vs. the Desire for an Aquatic LifeGravitational Pull vs. the Desire for an Aquatic LifeGravitational Pull vs the Desire for an Aquatic Life is the second studio album by ambient drone music group Stars of the Lid. It was recorded on four track and released as an LP on Sedimental in 1996...
- 1997: The Ballasted OrchestraThe Ballasted OrchestraThe 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. The album features minimal, droning compositions, of varied...
- 1998: Per Aspera Ad AstraPer Aspera Ad Astra (album)Per Aspera ad Astra is the fourth studio LP by Stars of the Lid. It was made in collaboration with artist Jon McCafferty and released on Kranky Records in 1998...
- 1999: Avec LaudenumAvec LaudenumAvec Laudenum is the fifth studio LP released by Stars of the Lid. It was originally released on Sub Rosa in 1999 and then re-released on Chicago indie Kranky in late 2002. The title translates as "With Laudanum", laudanum being an opiate. The first three tracks are three sections of one long piece...
- 2001: The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid
- 2007: Stars of the Lid and Their Refinement of the DeclineStars of the Lid and Their Refinement of the DeclineAnd Their Refinement of the Decline is the seventh studio LP by Stars of the Lid, which was released on the Kranky Label in April 2007. The album features minimal, droning compositions of varied length created from treated guitar, horn, piano, and other classical instruments.The track "Dopamine...
Others:
- 1998: Maneuvering the Nocturnal HumManeuvering the Nocturnal HumManeuvering the Nocturnal Hum is a limited vinyl EP by Stars of the Lid, which was released on Earworm Records in 1998. Limited to 750 copies, it features three minimal, droning compositions, two of which flow into each other. The last track was recorded live in Calgary, Canada in 1996....
(EP) - 2007: Carte-de-Visite (1997–2007 outtakes)
Split releases
- 1997: The Kahanek Incident, Vol. 3 (12" with LabradfordLabradfordLabradford is a U.S. post-rock musical group from Richmond, Virginia, founded in 1991. They have released six full albums from 1993 to 2001. Though not officially disbanded, its members have since been active with separate projects.-Biography:...
) (Trance SyndicateTrance SyndicateTrance Syndicate was an independent record label founded in 1990 by King Coffey, drummer of Austin, TX band the Butthole Surfers.. Its first release was Crust's The Sacred Heart of Crust EP...
) – SOTL track reissued on 2007's Carte-de-Visite - 1998: Split (7" with Windsor for the DerbyWindsor for the DerbyWindsor for the Derby are an American post-rock band based in Austin, Texas, whose members are originally from Tampa, Florida.Their debut album was released in 1996 on Trance Syndicate, and was produced by Adam Wiltzie, who then joined the group after the release of the album...
) (33 Degrees)
Compilation appearances
- 1996: Monsters, Robots and Bug Men - "Goodnight" (VirginVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
) - 2002: Brain in the Wire - "Requiem for Dying Mothers (Version i, Zamachowski op. 87)" (BrainwashedBrainwashed (website)Brainwashed is a not-for-profit online music publication offering news and reviews of eclectic music. Over fifty people contribute to the archives of Brainwashed. Brainwashed hosts websites for many bands, artists and record labels...
) - 2003: 1993–2003: 1st Decade in the Machines - "I Love You, But I Prefer Trondheim" (JesterJester RecordsJester Records is a record label founded in 1998 by Kristoffer Rygg after conflicts between his band Ulver and their German/American label Century Media Records.-Artists:* 1349 Rykkinn...
) - 2004: Kompilation - "Even If You're Never Awake (Version)" (KrankyKranky RecordsKranky is an independent record label, located in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1993 by Bruce Adams and Joel Leoschke.The bands it houses are noted for combining experimental and often electronic influences with elements of more traditional rock structures, and many of the artists on Kranky...
) - 2008: Brainwaves 2008 - "May 2nd 2008 (Live in NYC)" (BrainwashedBrainwashed (website)Brainwashed is a not-for-profit online music publication offering news and reviews of eclectic music. Over fifty people contribute to the archives of Brainwashed. Brainwashed hosts websites for many bands, artists and record labels...
)
External links
- Stars of the Lid at BrainwashedBrainwashed (website)Brainwashed is a not-for-profit online music publication offering news and reviews of eclectic music. Over fifty people contribute to the archives of Brainwashed. Brainwashed hosts websites for many bands, artists and record labels...
(official website) - Stars of the Lid at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Stars of the Lid at Unfinished (2007 Brian McBride interview)
- Stars of the Lid at Kranky RecordsKranky RecordsKranky is an independent record label, located in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1993 by Bruce Adams and Joel Leoschke.The bands it houses are noted for combining experimental and often electronic influences with elements of more traditional rock structures, and many of the artists on Kranky...
(biography, discography) (biography, discography) - Stars of the Lid at Epitonic RecordsEpitonic RecordsEpitonic Records is a record label with subsidiary Victoria Records....
(tracks, brief biography) - Stars of the Lid at Piero ScaruffiPiero ScaruffiPiero Scaruffi received a degree in Mathematics in 1982 from University of Turin, where he did work on the General Theory of Relativity. For a number of years he was the head of the Artificial Intelligence Center at Olivetti, based in Cupertino, California. He has been a visiting scholar at...
(discography, link to 1998 interview) - Stars of the Lid at VimeoVimeoVimeo is a video-sharing website on which users can upload, share, and view videos. It was founded by Zach Klein and Jake Lodwick in November 2004...
(teaser for an upcoming SOTL feature film)