''Avec Laudenum'' is the fifth studio LP released by

Stars of the Lid Stars of the Lid is an American ambient music duo consisting of Brian McBride and Adam Wiltzie. The duo formed in Austin, Texas in 1993. They have been acclaimed for their music incorporating droning, effects-treated guitars along with piano, st ...

. It was originally released on

Sub Rosa ''Sub rosa'' (New Latin for "under the rose") denotes secrecy or confidentiality. The rose has an ancient history as a symbol of secrecy. History In Hellenistic and later Roman mythology, roses were associated with secrecy because Cupid ga ...

in 1999 and then re-released on Chicago indie Kranky in late 2002. The title translates as "With Laudanum",

laudanum Laudanum is a tincture of opium containing approximately 10% powdered opium by weight (the equivalent of 1% morphine). Laudanum is prepared by dissolving extracts from the opium poppy (''Papaver somniferum Linnaeus'') in alcohol (ethanol). Red ...

being an

opiate An opiate, in classical pharmacology, is a substance derived from opium. In more modern usage, the term ''opioid'' is used to designate all substances, both natural and synthetic, that bind to opioid receptors in the brain (including antagonis ...

. The first three tracks are three sections of one long piece but, while within the minimalist vein, they have some variation and movement. The final two, individual tracks are more minimalist than the former and create a "floating bliss" atmosphere. By the time of this recording, band members

Adam Wiltzie Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie (born September 17, 1969, New York City, NY) is a composer and sound engineer based in Brussels, Belgium. Early life Wiltzie was born in New York City, NY. Originally a champion youth tennis player, a knee injury sustaine ...

and

Brian McBride Brian Robert McBride (born June 19, 1972) is an American former soccer player who played as a forward for Columbus Crew, Fulham and Chicago Fire. He is the fifth-highest all-time leading goalscorer for the United States national team. For mu ...

were residing in

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

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, and

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, respectively. It is reported that a vast proportion of this album was recorded through mail, with ideas being sent back and forth between the duo.allmusic.com Review "Avec Laudenum"/ref>

Critical reception

The album was generally praised by critics. John Bush, writing for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, stated:

Track listing

#"The Atomium, Part One" – 5:32 #"The Atomium, Part Two" – 10:43 #"The Atomium, Part Three" – 6:17 #"Dust Breeding (1.316)+" – 9:08 #"I Will Surround You" – 10:28

References

1999 albums Stars of the Lid albums Kranky albums Instrumental albums {{1990s-electronic-album-stub