Glacial, ambient soundscapes, neo-classical. Brian McBride is one half of Kranky mainstays, Stars of the Lid. If you like SotL, you will surely like the lengthy, sustained notes and general approach, although this is a bit warmer than some of the icy electronic soundscapes of SotL. McBride incorporates more acoustic instruments and there are plenty of violins on this record. This is one of the more emotional ambient albums I have heard. This album was composed for the documentary, Vanishing of the Bees. Also recommended to fans of The Dead Texan, Windy and Carl, and Amber Asylum. No FCCs.

1. Lush, swooping, dramatic strings and (4:13)
2. Another slow one with understated, atmospheric violin whale calls. (3:51)
*3. Lush strings, like an early morning landscape; solemn sad piano comes in, feels regretful. (7:45)
4. Triumphant major key tonality, emotional horns, kind of melodramatic. (4:10)
5. Powerful, ringing tones. (2:30)
6. Another slow, lush, string-driven exercise in beauty. (2:44)
7. Continuation of the previous two tracks, comes to a soaring climax. (2:27)
*8. Stark chimes, rhythmic little refrain, then slows to deep menacing tones, uneasy. (4:13)
9. Some airy electric piano and lots of negative space. (3:09)
10. Long tones sustained, like the title suggests, a chamber music-inspired piece. (2:44)
*11. Slow build but absolutely gorgeous finish. (5:26)