Put on Stars of the Lid's Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid and bliss out. Unspeakably sublime, the latest effort of Brian McBride and Adam Wiltzie, who distance themselves from their hometown Austin's boogie-rock scene, is a minimalist, parametric--and ambient--symphony with a faint rock sensibility that refuses to beg attention. Tired Sounds is built from formal patterns with layers of melody, texture, atmosphere and rhythm but not in the way we know it and without the use of drums. Unidentifiable guitars, strings, keyboards and horns, from soprano to bass in tone, are synthesised with occasional field recordings sounding like audio samples of our universe from the last century and the next galaxy. Recalling impressionist classical music more than indie rock, one might mathematically graph the patterns of the six suites that stretch across two CDs and six sides of vinyl with names such as "Austin Texas Mental Hospital" and "Requiem for Dying Mothers". Transcendent yet subtle, Tired Sounds will require many listenings to fully grasp, remaining a fascinating puzzle to contemplate and enjoy. File it under life-affirming ambient. --Jillian Steinberger