Stereolab
is the band that defines the seemingly contradictory concept of
retro-futurism. Odd elements of the past collide with visions of the
future with the dream of creating a better present. Bob Moog guides the
music, Karl Marx inspires the lyrics. Krautrock meets sunshine pop as
lyrics switch from English to French, though the dreamy vocals make it easy to
forget any content behind the loveliness. Stereolab had been doing their
thing since the dawn of the 90s but it all came together with 1996's Emperor
Tomato Ketchup. Led by the musical and romantic partnership of Tim
Gane and Laetitia Sadier, the band's lineup and sound was constantly expanding
throughout the decade. The guitar-based sound of their earliest recordings
was now enhanced by vintage synths, vibes, percussion, strings and other odds
and ends, all combined with catchy melodies and the incomparable vocals of
Sadier and the late, great Mary Hansen.
The album
kicks off with "Metronomic Underground" and there couldn't be a more
appropriate way to start. A simple, funky drumbeat backed by primitive
electronic noises is soon joined by an infectious bassline. More and more
instruments join in as well as looping vocals as the jam grows for nearly eight
minutes. This is followed by the string-enhanced pop of "Cybele's
Reverie," still one of the band's most popular songs. Throughout the
album, the band manages to move in different directions while maintaining a
distinct sound of their own. The sunshine pop of "Spark Plug"
gives way to the motorik beat of "OLV 26." "The Noise of
Carpet" is a guitar-based rocker that was released as a single in the
U.S. It didn't burn up the charts here as it's not exactly the grunge-alternative
sound that dominated radio at the time. But looking back, it fits right
in with the direction bands like Radiohead were heading. The back half of
the album is loaded with gems too, like the organ driven "Motoroller
Scalatron" and the haunting closer "Anonymous Collective."
Stereolab
continued to grow and evolve. Albums such as Dots and Loops and Sound-Dust
are also excellent. Unfortunately, the group was dealt a serious blow
when Mary Hansen was killed in a bicycle accident in 2002. They continued
to make good music but a key spark was definitely missing. The band is
now on an indefinite hiatus but has left a huge catalog of great music waiting
to be discovered. Emperor Tomato Ketchup is the best place to
start, then move both forwards and backwards in time, as such non-linear movement
is what Stereolab is all about.
-
Adam Reshotko
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