A Stable Reference
title: "A Stable Reference" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1995-albums", "labradford-albums", "kranky-(record-label)-albums", "flying-nun-records-albums"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Stable_Reference" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | A Stable Reference |
| type | studio |
| artist | Labradford |
| cover | A Stable Reference.jpg |
| released | |
| studio | The American University (Washington, D.C.) |
| genre | Post-rock |
| length | 46:05 |
| label | Kranky |
| prev_title | Prazision LP |
| prev_year | 1993 |
| next_title | Labradford |
| next_year | 1996 |
| :: |
| name = A Stable Reference | type = studio | artist = Labradford | cover = A Stable Reference.jpg | alt = | released = | recorded = | venue = | studio = The American University (Washington, D.C.) | genre = Post-rock | length = 46:05 | label = Kranky | producer = | prev_title = Prazision LP | prev_year = 1993 | next_title = Labradford | next_year = 1996
A Stable Reference is the second studio album by American post-rock band Labradford, released on May 23, 1995 by Kranky.
Reception
| rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score =
Reviewing A Stable Reference for AllMusic, Ned Raggett stated, "The biggest change on Reference has remained a near-constant ever since, namely, the removal of lyrics and vocal parts from almost all tracks, outside of some extremely understated and intentionally buried in-the-mix-bits scattered throughout the record." He also noted a greater focus on "mix complexity, with subtle yet important sonic elements and samples scattered throughout the songs", concluding that "in the end, Reference already points to the increasingly more challenging albums in Labradford's near future." Deborah Sprague of Trouser Press wrote that the band's "penchant for psychic drift still exists... but Labradford's paths seem a little more clear-cut the second time around".
Track listing
| all_writing = Carter Brown, Robert Donne and Mark Nelson | title1 = Mas | length1 = 4:32 | title2 = El Lago | length2 = 5:29 | title3 = Streamlining | length3 = 4:44 | title4 = Banco | length4 = 5:03 | title5 = Eero | length5 = 6:50 | title6 = Balanced on Its Own Flame | length6 = 4:02 | title7 = Star City, Russia | length7 = 5:03 | title8 = Comfort | length8 = 6:14 | title9 = SEDR 77 | length9 = 4:07
Personnel
Adapted from the A Stable Reference liner notes. ;Labradford
- Carter Brown – keyboards
- Robert Donne – bass guitar
- Mark Nelson – vocals, guitar ;Production and additional personnel
- Rob Christiansen – recording, mixing
Release history
::data[format=table]
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1995 | Kranky | CD, LP | krank 006 |
| United Kingdom | Flying Nun | FN 329 | ||
| :: |
References
References
- Moed, Andrea. (August 1995). "Labradford: ''A Stable Reference''".
- Raggett, Ned. "''A Stable Reference'' – Labradford".
- Sprague, Deborah. "Labradford".
- (1995). "A Stable Reference". [[Kranky (record label).
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