#43 stars of the lid – even if you’re never awake

there’s a cumbersome quality about words that weighs you down with particular fixed meanings. the lack of words, however, is often awkward, frustrating, even spastic. the “instrumental” fills the gap in between by offering a canvas awash with moods and associations that say something when arranged together with enough spaces between for meanings to emerge freely and subjectively. not that it cannot be manipulative, for it often is (eg. the cinematic soundtrack), or on the other end of the spectrum, perceived as meaningless and unintelligible (eg. noise and drone). what that means is that there’s something elusive about finding that right balance – something which i found as i picked up my long forgotten kranky kompilation album with its well chosen opener by stars of the lid. reminiscent of the groundbreaking ambient work of eno, “even if you’re never awake” strikes that balance, but only just – the waves of emotion and sentiment released are often on the brink of spilling over, but are always pulled back just in time, the soundscape itself ever in control, but never overbearing.

mp3: stars of the lid – even if you’re never awake (version)