Stars Of The Lid – The Ballasted Orchestra

By far and away the nicest Kranky release I have in the dozens of releases from this label in my collection. This album is one of my favourites, and always loved the original sound and packaging - even if it had its faults as all Kranky pressings seem to have... But this reissue is something special. The packaging is glossy, the artwork is rearranged and updated though fits with the original idea of the album artwork. The inner sleeves are a beautiful black and poly-lined to boot. The vinyl itself is shiny and nearly perfect, but not a click or pop on my copy. The sound itself should require a whole other review, but suffice to say as a fan of this album for so long it is amazing to hear what else has been lurking on those 4-track tapes all these years. Thanks, Mr. Kranky! Job well done!

Anyone know how to differentiate this original from the 2013 repress?

Down II sounds EXACTLY like a boards of canada song

What's the untitled track at the end of side D on the original pressing from 1997? Is it an extension to The Artificial Pine Arch Song, or something entirely different?

Love this, and no other SotL compares, it's really unique. The Ballasted Orchestra somehow bridges an ambient gap between indie guitar distortion and electronic drone. The album Kevin Shields might have made if he fell asleep at the decks before recording Loveless.

Music for Twin Peaks Episode #30 Part I is just sublime, like a submarine drifting through the waves.The Artificial Pine Arch Song is perhaps the most beautiful drone ever created.

The Ballasted Orchestra would sound like a weighty nightmare slowed down. Wish I had the vinyl so I could play it on 16rpm and let the tracks last longer. So much ballast.

Pressing is very off centre. Some sides unlistenable because of loud pops that cannot be cleaned away

Not as well known as the group's later, more melancholic, string driven outings, TBO is nevertheless a fantastic work of agrophobic ambience. Imagine the organic drift of Eno's beautiful and seminal On Land but created only on electric guitars. Sounds impossible? Let SOTL transport through fantsic mental landscapes. Never in a hurry, SOTL let sounds gradually accumulate and seep into the unconscious mind on The Ballasted Orchestra. Ambient music fanatics really shouldn't miss this one and will probably have the thing looping on repeat all day.

As an album, I don't think this quite flows as well as other SOTL releases. Perhaps due to the 'darker' nature of some tracks, which is not to my tastes, and I don't think they pull them off that well. However, it contains some great moments, such as the aptly named 'Sun Drugs' in which you can almost feel the heat across the back of your neck, and the closer 'The Artificial Pine Arch Song' - 18 minutes of swirling bliss. I don't know what's making those noises (as with most SOTL it's probably guitar, swathed in effects), but it is my favourite SOTL track, and consequently one of my favourite pieces of music.

Essential album for those interested in true ambient music, although as a complete work, their 2001 double disc outing 'The Tired Sounds Of Stars Of The Lid' is perhaps better.