And Their Refinement of the Decline is the seventh studio album by Stars of the Lid, released by Kranky in April 2007. The album was Kranky's 100th release, and was issued as a double CD and as a triple vinyl LP set (featuring alternate artwork). And Their Refinement of the Decline features minimal, droning compositions of varied length created from treated guitar, horn, piano, and other classical instruments.
The track "Dopamine Clouds Over Craven Cottage" refers to Craven Cottage in London, the home stadium of English football club Fulham F.C. At the time of the album's release, their captain was ex-United States soccer international Brian McBride, who shares the same name as Brian McBride from Stars of the Lid. The track "Don't Bother They're Here" uses the melody of Stephen Sondheim's 1973 song "Send in the Clowns." This Sondheim song contains the lyric "Don't bother they're here."
In December 2007, American webzine Somewhere Cold ranked And Their Refinement of the Decline No. 5 on their 2007 Somewhere Cold Awards Hall of Fame.
Track listing Disc one
Disc two
Credits Composed and recorded in Brussels, Belgium and Los Angeles, California by Adam Wiltzie and Brian McBride.
Additional instrumentation Sarah Nelson – cello Alexander Waterman – cello Jeff Rizzy – cello Borris Gronemberg – trumpet Cedric Manche – flugelhorn Toine Thys – clarinet Daniel Noesig – trumpet Jesse Sparhawk – harp Saint-Jean-Baptiste au Béguinage Children's Choir – choir
Contributors Luke Savisky Craig McCaffrey Pieter DeWagter Mr. Kranky
References