The Dead Texan

Disc: 1
1. 6 Million Dollar Sandwich
2. Glen's Goo
3. Chronicle of Early Failures, Pt. 1
4. Chronicle of Early Failures, Pt. 2
5. Taco Me Manque
6. Aegina Airlines
7. When I See Scissors, I Cannot Help But Think of You
8. Girth Rides A (Horse) +
9. Ballade d'Alain Georges
10. Beatrice, Pt. 2
See all 11 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. DVD

The Dead Texan,The Dead Texan,Kranky,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Space Rock

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The Dead Texan

Average customer rating: And the incline of the supine Aural Dali Everything in One Place Drone-based ambient at its best Another massive and stunning slab of ambience

And Their Refinement of the Decline Stars of the Lid Manufacturer: Kranky ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid From Here We Go Sublime Harmony in Ultraviolet Avec Laudenum The Ballasted Orchestra ASIN: B000NIIUX8 Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

And the incline of the supine.......2007-07-06

After the post-millennial brick that was "The tired sounds of...", I was afraid that I had heard the last of SoTL. With the guys off in different days (Belgium vs LA), the effort needed to pull together and create anything, let alone something to match their previous best (not to bash Avec Laudinum, Ballasted or the others)would have to be signifigant. But with Refinement they have surpassed all my expectations.

This is the finest record to come out of 2007.

From the Bartok-esque opening strains of Dungtitled (in A Major), to the final mews of December Hunting for Vegitarian F*ckface, there isn't a point where my attention wanes or my emotions fail to be stirred. This is music that is at the same time cosmic and microscopic. It is the mechanical dreams of Pioneer 10 as it slumbers its way to infinity. It is the opera of hydrogen atoms. It is the songs of the empty spaces in the ocean, and the sound of dust motes in a beam of light as you sleep on a saturday afternoon with your dog.

With most of the 'ambient' music that is out there (Eno, Koner, Twin's SAW II, etc), it pays to let it enter the background and occasionally pop up to your attention. With SoTL's newest, I stand-sit-sprawl before my speakers in awe, with wonder at the music = no less than the bombasts of Sigur Ros or GSYBE at their finest moments. Do not buy this for sleeping. Buy this for awakening.

Aural Dali.......2007-06-05

Hmmm...what's this?.. Stars of the Lid, never heard of them, wonder what they sound like, put the Cd into the autoloader, settle into the armchair, push play, 70 seconds into the first CD thinking 'what a piece of cra..' attempting to push stop on the remote...too late....Woofers have kicked in, body paralysed, unable to move, going down in an Elevator to visit Dali and Philip K Dick, driftspace in a foglit landscape - time moves like treacle, Chickens in Bermuda shorts cry out woefully 'J'taime...J'taime'.... I try desperately to claw my way back to the surface from this auditory Oublette, but to no avail...before I realise it the second CD has come to an end... all Music stops, all memory erased. I gaze at the empty CD case in my lap, thinking 'Hmmm. Stars of the Lid...never heard of them...wonder what they sound like....push play...'

If you're lucky your Mom or Dad will break down the door to your bedroom after 36 hours of continuous play and switch off the power to your Stereo...

Enjoy

Everything in One Place.......2007-05-11

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.

Drone-based ambient at its best.......2007-04-25

I first became acquainted with Stars of the Lid through the work of their members on their own: Brian McBride and Adam Wiltzie (one of the members of The Dead Texan). I instantly fell in love with both, with their endless musical soundscapes that transport you much like the greatest works of ambient, so I figured Stars of the Lid wouldn't be too far from it.

While I can say their music is not for everybody, I found myself quickly devouring the entire discography by the duo. Their work is loaded with sheets of sound that overlay each other in an almost endless fashion. It's drone-based ambient at its best, without any rush or hush to help you sleep like a baby or take you by the hand through your meditation.

Another massive and stunning slab of ambience.......2007-04-16

The Tired Sounds Of came out nearly five and a half years ago and in the time since then has become one of my most trusted ambient releases. Sure, I love my Brian Eno and my more modern work by Deathprod and others, but there's something about the sounds that the duo of Stars Of The Lid put together on that release that call me back time after time. Of course, since that release came out, both members of the group have released solid solo albums (Adam Wiltzie's The Dead Texan and Brian McBride's When The Detail Lost It's Freedom), but neither of those releases seemed to quite match the power of the two when they were working together under that somnolent pseudonym.

And so And Their Refinement Of The Decline is not only a big release because it's their first in so many years, but also because it marks the ten year period of the two musicians working together, as well as the hundredth release on the venerable Kranky label. It's another sprawling 2CD, 3LP release from the group, clocking in at over two hours in length and it's quite possibly even more massive sounding and moving than their previous album.

That's saying a lot, and while it's not quite as immediately melodic as either of the solo albums from each member of the group, it's yet another album from Stars Of The Lid that simply seeps down around you and absorbs into your being. "Dungtitled (In A Major)" opens the release with a wheeze of filtered horns, then dissolves immediately into one of their familiar, yet somehow still highly moving widescreen panoramas of blurring strings, with a horn melody that creeps back in and tiptoes the line between mournful and triumphant. The two-part "Articulate Silences" is some of the most gorgeous stuff the two have ever done, letting breathy chords decay into silence before pushing into the foreground again, with the latter making subtle movements that weaken the knees.

When it was announced that Stars Of The Lid had another album coming out, I have to admit that it immediately shot to near the top of my list in terms of anticipated releases, but this eighteen song set still feels overwhelming (in a good way) at times. On the playfully-titled (one of several) "Don't Bother They're Here," huge waves of filtered drones pulse for over ten minutes while some underlying melodic elements play out slightly more actively, creating a nice juxtaposition of sound. Elsewhere, the ten-minute plus "The Daughters Of Quiet Minds" again feels familiar as a soft scarf or pair of gloves, but again shifts and breathes with just enough of a new edge that it's refreshing.

Yes, there are thousands of artists creating ambient music, and some of them probably have even nudged up slightly against the work that Stars Of The Lid create, but somehow this duo have managed to carve out another solid batch of songs that simply sound unlike anyone else doing this sort of thing. There are hints of modern classical, drone, and sheer textures that you won't find anywhere else, and when played on headphones (or nice speakers) And Their Refinement Of The Decline is literally a moving experience. Call it music for lucid dreaming, call it music for daydreams, or call it music for simply strolling in the dusk, this is another album that will stretch time and take you to another place.

(from almost cool music reviews)

Average customer rating: Amazing Minimalist Ambient Staggeringly Beautiful Terrific example of ambient music The Dead Texan: S/T (Kranky, 2004) A Review With No SOTL References

The Dead Texan The Dead Texan Manufacturer: Kranky ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Space Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid The Ballasted Orchestra Avec Laudenum And Their Refinement of the Decline Plume ASIN: B00064X6ZG Release Date: 2004-11-02

Tracks:

1. 6 Million Dollar Sandwich
2. Glen's Goo
3. Chronicle of Early Failures, Pt. 1
4. Chronicle of Early Failures, Pt. 2
5. Taco Me Manque
6. Aegina Airlines
7. When I See Scissors, I Cannot Help But Think of You
8. Girth Rides A (Horse) +
9. Ballade d'Alain Georges
10. Beatrice, Pt. 2
11. Struggle

Tracks:

1. DVD

Customer Reviews:

Amazing Minimalist Ambient.......2007-02-02

Listening to The Dead Texan is equivalent to being transported to a place beyond time, where nobody has ever been... like a walk in the desert, as stated in the YouTube page for the video of "Aegina Airlines", one of the most special tracks in the album: http[...]

Indeed, the inflences of the masters of ambient and minimalism, Brian Eno and Harold Budd can be heard here, but so can other elements from post-rock bands such as Sigur Ros and Labradford. The end result, regardless of the musical infusions from other places is exquisite, yielding a drone sound that you will find hypnotizing at the very least.

If you enjoy The Dead Texan, I would strongly recommend you check out Hammock's and Robin Guthrie's work too.

Staggeringly Beautiful.......2006-02-18

This album got me on an ambient kick, picking up a bunch of Labradford, SOTL, etc., but so far it beats them all hands-down. It's not ambient in the same way the others are: it's not drony and all the samples aren't super-paddy. He uses bright piano samples, vocal samples, there's a rhythm (albeit a gentle, meandering one) to the songs, and while the album flows together well as a whole, the songs are all distinct.

Plus, the album comes with a DVD! Normally I never watch those things, some music video or concert footage or whatever, but I just happened to pop this one in on a lark, and it has music videos for, I think, the whole album. Or anyway quite a few of the songs. And the music videos are really peaceful and beautiful in the same way as the music. I left them looping on my television while I worked and kept the DVD out as one I'll play again.

I've listened to this album a *lot* in the past couple months since I got it, and it hasn't gotten old at all, yet, long after I'd expected to be tired of it.

Terrific example of ambient music.......2006-01-10

There is an obvious Brian Eno/ Harold Budd influence here, but I have to say that the efforts of "The Dead Texan" (and "Stars of the Lid" their other project) are even superior to the work of their predecessors'. The music gives the impression of vast tracts of empty savannah, mist-enveloped foot hills, and torrential rainfall. It is lightly punctuated with human voices and sound effects (rain, footsteps, etc.) and true to the ambient form, it emphasizes the space around the music as much as the music itself. Ideal listening involves a good stereo system in a large room.

The DVD contains music videos and various works of art from Christina Vanzos. The selection "Aegina Airlines" is especially good. Christina's art is almost minimalist, and blends well with the music.

There is nothing "overproduced", noisy, or chaotic about this album. It is dreamy and precise. A terrific accomplishment.

The Dead Texan: S/T (Kranky, 2004).......2006-01-07

The Dead Texan is an audio/visual release with Adam Wiltzie (Stars of the Lid) as the musical side and Christina Vantzos as the visual artist. Unfortunately, I only have the audio side of the project and will be commenting on that for the time being. If I obtain the visual side, I will make an effort to edit my review to include it as well. Wiltzie brings to the table the floating clouds of Stars of the Lid and makes breathtaking soundscapes and gorgeous, moving pieces. Moving through lush keyboard and acoustic accents, Wiltzie takes his listener on a tour of things beautiful and sublime.

This self-titled disc starts off with "The Six Million Dollar Sandwich." The listener is immediately invited into the lushness of Wiltzie's musical brush strokes. Piano floats on top of cloud-like keys. Shimmering guitar enters the mix and reminds me of a beautiful sunset in the middle of the New Mexico desert, with the color of the red clay blending with the sun's last moments in sight. Wiltzie's vocals make a rare appearance on this track towards its finish. The vocals are a tad eerie, with a staccato type of feel. With the sun having gone out of site, the earth rotates into the view of the starry night with "Glen's Goo." Ok, the title of the song doesn't evoke vast scenes of the Milky Way, but it sure does emote that for me as I sit and feel the reverberating synths. The sound is atmospheric, lucid, and soothing. This leads the listener into "A Chronicle of Early Failures - Part 1." This track begins with a somber tone and leads into louder strumming of an acoustic guitar. This calms down and the synths hum to life and, perhaps, call the listener to contemplation. Perhaps I am influenced by the title of the song, as I think I should be, but it seems there is a sense of regret in the sounds of this track. The song is powerfully emotive: still, yet unsettled. "A Chronicle of Early Failures - Part 2" starts with wind sounds, an almost growling, and some clicks. There are two senses I get from this song. Either, there is something ominous on the horizon or The Texan is inviting the listener to an awakening. The sounds eventually disappear and Wiltzie floats a hopeful listener on clouds of warm sounds. His musical brush strokes are deep and broad, creating gorgeous movements throughout his pieces.

"Taco de Macque" begins with sounds of refreshing rain and a sample saying "I feel sorry for you kid." There is slow piano and melancholy synth. This is one of those tracks that one "sits in," if you know what I mean. "Aegina Airlines" starts with soft piano and moves into shimmering sounds that move around the piano work. The sounds are angelic and the voices in the keys really speak to the listener. "When I See Scissors I Can't Help but Think of You" is dreamy with a beautiful piano melody and breathing synths. "Girth Rides a Horse" is a short track with swirling sounds and humming, reverberating keys. The build in this song is a bit more prevalent and the volume goes up a bit as the track progresses. This fades into the night sky as the keys dwindle down to a small swirl of sound and then silence.

"La Ballade d'Alain Georges" has a very slow, plodding feel that lies upon the hum of a drone. This grows into a throbbing, ethereal rise of keys. Some backwards sound eventually join the mix as it builds slowly and patiently. The track is emotive, peaceful, and altogether moving. This is the longest track on the disc and it really shows Wiltzie's ability to be patient in composition and really allow the music and soundscapes to take the listener somewhere. "Beatrice Part 2" floats along into the air of the room. It is lush and spacious. This has a darker feel to it, but not so much depressing as beautiful. Kind of like the dark beauty of the sea or night sky. Eventually, violin type sounds come into play and the drone floats among the staccato of the strings. Toward the end of the track, there is a moment of slide guitar that washes in and out of the mix. The album ends with "The Struggle." Voices intermix with backward sounds as the track begins and they fade to simple, subdued keys. There is what I might call a guitar hook playing a melody over the keys that is rather awesome. Perhaps the struggle here is between the power of the keys and that of the melody fighting for prominence in the mix. This fades into waves of warm guitar and keys and they blend together and stop fighting one another. By the end of the song, there are vocals by Wiltzie and a female vocalist. They are bright and beautiful and sing, "Every time we ask now why are we going so fast we had better stay awake cause the sun cannot last." It seems that the slow patience of the music invites the listener to take a look around and step out of our fast-paced lives.

The Dead Texan is a beautiful project. Wiltzie has outdone himself and has proven once again that he is an ambient master. His soundscapes are lush, lucid, floating and breath taking. I can't wait to see the visuals!

A Review With No SOTL References.......2005-10-04

This is one hell of an album. The Dead Texan shapes sounds and hums in a manner which leaves you wondering whether to smile, cry, or curl up into fetal position and sleep forever. Listening to this album I find myself struggling earnestly to translate some of the sounds floating underneath the surface of the thick chord progressions. Whatever they may be, they are orchestrated in a manner which will leave you breathless and wanting more. Four stars solid.
PS - The dvd sequences are incredible. Eat a special brownie and go to town.

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