Felix - "You Are The One I Pick" CD

This English chamber folk/pop duo consists of Lucinda Chua (a pianist/cellist who tours with Stars Of The Lid) and Chris Summerlin (guitarist from rock band Lords), and "You Are The One I Pick" is their debut album. It's a sweet, pure sound, with Chua's engaging voice recanting poignant, childlike tales like the lovely "I Wish I Was A Pony". "Waltzing For Weasels" is a sad little reflection, and the ambient, string-laden "What I Learned From TV" is perhaps most like Stars Of The Lid, though more intimate as Lucinda's words impart personal musings softly into the drifty soundscape. As one of Kranky's more straightforward indie outfits, Felix may surprise some listeners, but this classy, stylish, and slightly-askew sound is as sparse and austere as anything else on the fine label. Enjoyable, honest, and evocative music for the sensitive romantic in all of us. (Kranky)

Felixspace

Stars Of The Lid - Environmental Defense Fund commercial

A curious and pertinent ad featuring the tired (and beautiful) sounds of Stars Of The Lid...

Brainwaves 2008 Festival

If you are reading this and are to be anywhere near the Boston, Massachusetts USA area later in November, you definitely need to get your tickets for this upcoming festival put on by the massively wonderful Brainwashed family of websites and headmaster Jon Whitney...

The list of announced performers is incredible, and this assemblage is not likely to happen again. Support independent music and the arts and check out these shows!

Pasted directly from Brainwashed:

The following is the schedule of performers. Set times and order will not be posted until the day of the event. Be sure to arrive when doors open to find runnning order and set time schedule.

Note: DJ Steven Stapleton will be spinning between sets all weekend long.

Friday, November 21, 2008 - doors at 7pm, music begins at 8pm
Meat Beat Manifesto
Silver Apples
JG Thirlwell's Manorexia
Marissa Nadler
& a special Greater Than One video presentation

Saturday, November 22, 2008 - doors at noon, music begins at 1pm
His Name Is Alive
Gary Wilson
Rivulets feat. Jessica Bailiff
Major Stars
Nmperign feat. Jason Lescalleet
Glenn Jones

Saturday, November 22, 2008 - doors at 7pm, music begins at 8pm
Matmos
Threshold HouseBoys Choir
Little Annie
Reformed Faction (Mark and Robin of Zoviet France, Rapoon, Dead Voices On Air)
Andrew Liles & Jonathan Coleclough

Sunday, November 23, 2008 - doors at noon, music begins at 1pm
Stars of the Lid
To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie
Boduf Songs
Lichens
Nudge
Strategy
Windy Weber (of Windy & Carl) & Thomas Meluch (of Benoit Pioulard)

Ticket prices for the day passes is as follows and will only be available direct from the Regent Theatre:
Friday, November 21st, 2008: $20
Saturday, November 22nd, 2008: $45
Sunday, November 23rd, 2008: $20
(restoration and online transaction fees are NOT included in this price)

For more information and details (including individual artist info), direct yourself here.

Stars Of The Lid with Christopher Willitts - 04.24.08 930 Listening Room, Louisville KY

Housed in what was once an old schoolhouse, the '930 Listening Room' is, in actuality, a part of Sojourn Community Church, and this is actually a really nice, informal place for shows. There's an adjunct art gallery (secular) attached, and the seated venue is comfortable and roomy. The complimentary coffee/tea is also a nice touch. There was no overt evidence of reference to any religious elements (aside from the initial opening act being a local church deacon named Jamie Barnes, who performed some really pleasant folksy indie sounds). Anyways, after our little hot beverage 'pick-me-up', we walked around the little gallery space and then found front-row seats. Chris Willitts is a San Francisco-based guitarist/programmer, and his funny faces and comical demeanor helped his set substantially. I thought his music was far too disjointed and freeform (and I appreciate a lot of abstract music, thank you very much). He ran his guitar through all kinds of digital computer effects, and the results were really pretty messy. His final track was his crowning moment, approaching a kind of ambience, but I wasn't really very interested otherwise.
SOTL were next, and this was quite a spectacular showing, and leagues better than when I saw them last in Bloomington in 2003 or so. Toting along a full (live!) string trio, Adam Wiltzie and Brian McBride's hypnotic, organic ambient sound was brought into proto-classical territory, with plenty of dynamic and melody. Their set ran about an hour, and their extended pieces were lovely and intense, with abstracted backing projection films and a lightshow that cast the stage in all kinds of hazy, colorwashed glows. Stunning and deep, Stars Of The Lid are among the leading purveyors of true ambient sound in all the world. This was certainly a world-class show, and in little lazy Louisville, no less. Wow! And if you happen to be near one of their shows anytime soon, check out the limited tour-only CD available (it looks like it's called 'Carte-De-Visite'), as well, featuring 9 rare or unreleased SOTL tracks. It is wonderful, as is anything in the group's astounding back catalogue. photo credit: Nick