Stars Of The Lid - And Their Refinement Of The Decline

Two hours of ambient music full of very long drones where almost nothing happens... Stars Of The Lid critics strongly use this argument over and over and, to be honest, they're 100% right. Why did I fell over this record then? Because the word is "almost" and in those little details lies the big difference. The key to understand this record is the "Refinement" expressed in the title, one that creates long sounds with a scientific precision and manages to evolve its listenner, slowly grabbing him with something hypnotic and ridiculously beautiful and then carefully inserting micro tensions with patience, giving them enough space and time to fully breathe. With brilliant titles such as "A Meaningful Moment Through A Meaning(Less) Process", "Dopamine Clouds Over Craven Cottage", "That Finger On Your Temple Is The Barrel Of My Raygun" or "December Hunting For Vegetarian Fuckface", this collection of smooth, emotional and nostalgic symphonies is actually very far from monotony. More than very slow ambient music to put you to sleep, this is more like heavenly poetry with redemptive powers, one that can also serve as an inducer of very pleasant levels of consciousness. (8,5/10)