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Stars of the Lid & Their Refinement of the Decline

Live

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 118 ratings

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Audio CD, Live, April 3, 2007
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Track Listings

Disc: 1

1 Dungtitled (In a Major)
2 Articulate Silences, Pt. 1
3 Articulate Silences, Pt. 2
4 Evil That Never Arrived
5 Apreludes (In C Sharp Major)
6 Don't Bother They're Here
7 Dopamine Clouds Over Craven Cottage
8 Even If You're Never Awake (Deuxi)
9 Even (Out)
10 Meaningful Moment Through a Meaning (Less) Process

Disc: 2

1 Another Ballad for Heavy Lids
2 Daughters of Quiet Minds
3 Hiberner Toujours
4 That Finger on Your Temple Is the Barrel of My Raygun
5 Humectez la Mouture
6 Tippy's Demise
7 Mouthchew
8 December Hunting for Vegetarian Fuckface

Editorial Reviews

After the near symphonic exercise of engaging the void that was Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid in 2001, it was hard to believe there was anything left to do. Wrong. Brian McBride and Adam Wiltzie emerged from the studio in early 2007 with the equally huge And Their Refinement of the Decline. The notion of symphonic here is, without doubt, still present, but not in any normal way. Over two very differently themed discs, and three LPs, Stars of the Lid engage long conceptual ideas from a place one can only call micro-minimalism. An obsession with drones fading in and out on all kinds of instruments is what takes precedent here, whether that be a string section, a solo cello, harp, trumpet or a children's choir. (Yes, all of them are here, and more.) Don't worry, all this deep fixation with drones and classical music doesn't mess up Stars of the Lid's sense of humor. The titles are still hilarious in places (the set opens with a piece titled "Dungtitled (In a Major)"). The sound of drones is prevalent on disc one, though the drones change and are actually held notes. Whether they are played live or simply articulated and then manipulated by electronics doesn't matter. The feeling of being washed over, being gently pulled under water to someplace where language no longer makes sense, feelings get all folded together and an overwhelming calm takes over - especially at loud volumes - as single notes are held by the strings for as long as five minutes. The aforementioned piece is like this, as are "The Evil That Never Arrived," and "Apreludes (In C Major)," which moves through one note for minutes at a time with an ever increasing dynamic and textural array of sounds and instruments and begins to feel like the opening theme of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Yet the real bottom line in these pieces, and to a lesser but no less relevant extent, is that these cuts feel like a part of an opening whole that is also at the end of something, like quiet exits from a long-form work, with the feelings of being finished, exhausted, lulled by the lack of energy and motion. It's impossible to say, but when engaging disc two, it feels almost as if it is a mirror image to Gavin Bryars' magnificent "The Sinking of the Titantic" (the second version). Here, where melody dissipates and disappears or never even arrives, as in "The Daughters of Quiet Minds," or the in-and-out of the ether feel in "That Finger on Your Temple Is the Barrel of My Raygun," where actual oceanic and perhaps ship sounds can be heard washing through the mix; and the piece is merely three notes in scale. The sense of drama and restless experimentation are portrayed in back to back pieces ("Humectez la Mouture" and "Tippy's Demise") where on the former a voice in French speaks out of an indescribable series of spaces and noises, and on the latter a cello harmonically plays with the all but absent "orchestra" who have disappeared into the actual feel of the piece rather than remained in it's mechanical parts. The set's final cut, "Hunting for Vegetarian Fuckface" begins with voices, muted yet telling, washed into the emerging sound, where chords express themselves, shift and change shape, color and dimension, becoming both something more and something less in the process. At over 17 minutes, more instruments are added, they emerge louder and are more "present" but remain under the guise of absence, as that thing that has already been wiped away. The single- and two-note lines that emerge from the slow, turtle-like pace of the track never move toward anything else even though they assert the theme in various dynamic ways on occasions before re-entering the shadow world of sound. Everything here is rounded. There are no edges on either disc, it's all fuzzy and yet brilliant to hear at the same time. It's music of such quiet and devastating power it can silence a room in five minutes without the volume knob on the stereo being manipulated. There are detractors - or better yet, cynics - who wonder why, and how, music like this.

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.55 x 5.16 x 0.47 inches; 3.53 ounces
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Kranky
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ KRANK100CD
  • Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2007
  • SPARS Code ‏ : ‎ DDD
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ February 15, 2007
  • Label ‏ : ‎ Kranky
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000NIIUX8
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 118 ratings

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
118 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2015
    This is some of the most deeply moving music I've ever heard. I've listened to many flavors of ambient music through the years, and this is some of the best.

    While much ambient music blends seamlessly into and out of the background (and many people like that about it), this album commands attention. I can't forget about it once it's on. The scope is too majestic and the themes too arresting.

    I've never had such an emotional response to such simple music. This stuff really gets me in a deep way. Three note melodies, cycled slowly, over lush textures... and it's magical.

    Part of the appeal is the sensitivity and the fidelity. It's easy in this genre to loop a good idea for eight minutes ad nauseum, turning it into a gradual decay, or to rest upon some cheesy synths or gratuitous effects processing. There's none of that here. The composition never loses focus or direction, and the album moves from track to track effortlessly. This album, more than most, feels blasphemous to skip tracks on.

    And the sounds! There are majestic swells of strings, french horns, pianos, all manner of subtly distorted instruments... And everything is tasteful, inspired, exactly as it should be.

    This is a rich, conscious, powerful album that only grows with repeated listening. Just be aware that you might find yourself unexpectedly moved by it.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2013
    How did I find this? More appropriately, how did I miss this band? I blame Pandora - and a Tim Story channel that I created, which ended up mixing in some Stars of the Lid and Liquid Mind. So I became curious...who are Stars of the Lid and what of their body of work? It was on to Spotify and a listen through all of the Stars releases...and on to A Winged Victory for the Sullen, and The Dead Texan.

    I am working on a book, and nothing helps me write better than having Stars of the Lid playing. of all of the superb Stars releases, it is this one that I cherish the most. My musical tastes are wide-ranging, from alternative rock through ECM jazz into classical - with a special love of the ambient work of Eno and others. but again....Stars of the Lid takes the cake, and ...and the refinement of the decline is so special, so hard to adequately describe.

    So instead of describe it using fumbling language and inadequate phrases, I am off to put this music on and be transformed into a peaceful place where joy and deep thought is catalyzed. Try it...you will love it!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2010
    Stars of the Lid are for me the most compelling artists working in the ambient form today, and in my opinion, for the last 25 years - and I'm a giant Eno fan. I've spent most of a year where all I can listen to is either their last three releases, or that which has served as an inspiration to them, such as the works of Arvo Part, etc. With "Refinement..." they show that they are firmly on the arc of creating their best work with each release, and I hope they continue to collaborate on the Stars' projects. Let's all hope so, because this music is *important* - if you like or are curious about ambient music, this is about as good as it gets. Great work, guys. Give us another in a few years, ok? -- Murry, Old 97's, etc.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2014
    One of the best bodies of ambient music ever recorded. It is highly thematic and thought provoking with each and every track.
    They are within the hierarchy of this form of music. This particular CD will be with me forever. It came to me-spontaneously- from listening to the Brian Eno station on Pandora-after the loss of my mother and was the perfect setting for the dimensions of my emotions during that period. Track two and eight are particularly significant to me for their sheer beauty and texture. I love Stars of the Lid, their depth is more significant than they probably know.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2019
    This has to be the most beautiful and emotionally engaging 2 hours of music I have ever experienced in my 64 years on this planet. Every 5 star comment hits all the reasons why it is so special. I would give it 10 stars if i could.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2015
    Great music to work to! No vocals to get in the way and you may even become too relaxed to get anything done! The music of Stars of the Lid seems to go well with just about anything, and definitely gives you a new perspective on things dependent upon the activity you combine the music with. This is one of their best albums, my favorite track being December Hunting For Vegetarian F@#$face. If you're looking to branch out from traditional relaxation music, this would be a good place to start.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2007
    I've just finished listening to this double CD (121 minutes). I must say that it took me to many places and reminded me of so many other wonderful artists. It opens like Koyaanisqatsi, and ends like an Indian raga. Between these bookends it sounds like shimmering Harold Budd and Brian Eno. Warm passages soothe the soul. Dark corners keep you alert. Various instruments fade in and out. This is my first excursion into Stars of the Lid and I'd bet it's the best place to start. Put it on, turn it up, and relax for 2 hours. Very enjoyable.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2018
    I’ve been listening on Prime to this album and I’m hooked. I call this genre of music “Alternative Ambient”. It’s not cheesy or a drone of one chord for 10 minutes at a time. There are changes here, though subtle, the music does go places. Being a musician myself in a similar genre it’s nice to hear another artist get it.
    For the listener looking for relaxing music that isn’t new age or “chill” try this. Oh, and headphones add so much more to the experience. You’ll notice much more than you would with speakers.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Lintula Hannu
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stats of THE lid...alias GAS. A gem to have
    Reviewed in France on June 30, 2019
    All good
  • V
    5.0 out of 5 stars this is my best discovery for years
    Reviewed in Canada on October 23, 2016
    Ok, this is my best discovery for years! I'm used to sleep and relax to these sounds. The best feeling I had was listening to the last song while driving on an autumn day, windows open with a coffee.
  • Joey Garbato
    5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars (of the lid)
    Reviewed in Italy on May 10, 2016
    A masterpiece. Beyond every classification, ambient, post-rock, ecc.Pure sounds from a very huge place. Hard to distinguish acoustic sounds from electronic sounds, treated guitars and so on. But, maybe, the leading actor of these 2 hours of music is the silence that lies between the fading in and fading out.
  • The Cat's Mother
    5.0 out of 5 stars So much more than just background music
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2015
    I love this album and it's one of the very few I'll play beginning to end rather than in a random shuffle, usually if I want to concentrate on reading something I really need to take in, or writing. It's relaxing whilst being (for music) unobtrusive as it removes other more distracting sounds from my environment. I'm fairly sure that if stopped doing whatever I was doing and just sat down and listened, I would probably slip off into the best day's sleep I've ever had, up til the OCD part of my brain came-to and started reminding me I'd left something electrical on, anyway.

    I feel a bit disrespectful suggesting this composition makes good White Noise, as it really is much better and more thoughtfully arranged than that. White Gold Noise, perhaps.
  • Struppi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stars of the Lid - Geschmackssache ... und das ist auch gut so
    Reviewed in Germany on December 21, 2013
    Stars of the Lid halt ... einfach weg sein, in der Schwerelosigkeit, und nichts denken müssen, das beschreibt die Musik am besten. Dieses Album "And their refinement of the decline" ist mein persönlicher Liebling: Etwas abwechslungsreicher, als die anderen Alben, aber trotzdem dem Grundsound treu geblieben ... Einfach großartig, diese Band und diese Musik!