The Ballasted Orchestra

Infobox Album
Name = The Ballasted Orchestra
Type = studio
Artist = Stars of the Lid


Released = Start date|1997|3|10
Recorded = East Austin, Texas
Genre = Ambient
drone
Length = 78:04
Label = Kranky
Producer = Brian McBride, Adam Wiltzie
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:acfrxquhldae link]
Last album = "Gravitational Pull vs. the Desire for an Aquatic Life" (1996)
This album = "The Ballasted Orchestra" (1997)
Next album = "Per Aspera Ad Astra" (1998)

"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.cite web |url=http://www.brainwashed.com/sotl/musiques.html |title=Stars of the Lid: Musiques |format=Flash |accessmonthday=June 20 |accessyear=2008] 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: 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.

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";cite web
url=http://www.brainwashed.com/sotl/music.html
title=Stars of the Lid: Music
accessmonthday=June 20
accessyear=2008
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20010620164636/brainwashed.com/sotl/music.html
archivedate=June 13, 2001] additionally, "The Artificial Pine Arch Song" ran to 20:52 on the vinyl as opposed to 18:00 on the CD.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] This material would not fit on a standard, 80-minute CD.

References