The future of Stereolab

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I just listened to Stereolab's Sound Dust and something must have finally clicked after 2 years, as it sounded luvly. There's a new EP coming out apparently:

Mastering of the new EP is complete. On October 7th 2003 Elektra will issue a 5 track CD EP and on October 13th 2003 Duophonic UHF Disks will issue a 5 track CD and a 7" vinyl edition - probably three 7" disks.

They have been one of the shining lights of pop for a decade now, but does the world actually need another Stereolab record? Is there anywhere left to go after the last few meticulously crafted records? Am I alone in entertaining the thought that maybe, just maybe, Mary's passing might have coincided with the end of the 'labs's golden era? Might they be better off focusing on those myriad side-projects, and closing the door on the 'lab's fine body of work? Or am I just insane? Tell us how much you look forward to a new Stereolab record...

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Monday, 4 August 2003 04:59 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

i had assumed they'd finished, after that most recent Monade album was released. short of dropping the guitar OR keyboards entirely, i don't know where else they could go. personally i'd rather they didn't make another record as Stereolab.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 4 August 2003 05:03 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

each record has had its moments, but the last time i was excited about anything they did was Aluminium Tunes.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 4 August 2003 05:04 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I loved Sound Dust, and will place it among their best work. I'm certainly willing to hear more 'lab, and will surely buy new material.

― derrick (derrick), Monday, 4 August 2003 05:21 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

How is that Monade record btw?

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Monday, 4 August 2003 05:27 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

low key. I like it.

― nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Monday, 4 August 2003 05:31 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

They should make the planet-conquering "Sugar Sugar"-y universal pop genius record that they were saying they COULD make back in 1995 and then split in a blaze of glory. They've ploughed increasingly dull furrow for well over a decade now without actually becoming properly shite but I'd rather they did something fantastic and unexpected before they split, instead of just disintegrating into nothingness.

― Alex in Rotherham (Alex in Doncaster), Monday, 4 August 2003 08:03 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

They're a great singles band but their albums have been boring for years. More fizzy ribena pop a la wow and flutter please!

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Monday, 4 August 2003 11:18 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"fizzy ribena pop" is an ace description but they can go even more uber-pop than Wow & Flutter when they want and it's about time they DID. They should make their Tubthumping (and attendant album) and then call it a day.

― Alex in Rotherham (Alex in Doncaster), Monday, 4 August 2003 11:22 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

They should make the planet-conquering "Sugar Sugar"-y universal pop genius record that they were saying they COULD make back in 1995 and then split in a blaze of glory

This seems to be a popular view of Stereolab and not one I subscribe to at all. Their scamper away from the indie disco dancefloor down ever-narrowing corridors of fussy detail and texture mirrors my own shift in tastes, and as a result I've loved most of their records (especially Sound-Dust and the last quarter of everyone's favourite one to knock, ...Milky Night).

That said, an end to Stereolab now, after Mary's tragic death, would seem appropriate, but there are unpleasantly humdrum things like brand identity and paying the mortgage to think about.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 4 August 2003 12:19 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I always wondered how much they actually sold, in the UK they went through a period of having top 30 albums and seemingly doing very respectably. Dot & Loops got to number 19 in 1997 and then unexpectedly everything since has missed the top 75 completely and I was VERY WORRIED for a while about their mortgage-paying capabilities after this, but I got over it. I don't imagine their audience changes dramatically from record to record but either there was a huge drop in sales around 1998 or the charts became a less-Stereolab friendly place, or both.

― Alex in Rotherham (Alex in Doncaster), Monday, 4 August 2003 12:30 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

i've only bought one of their albums and two of their singles since "Dots..."

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 4 August 2003 12:33 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

(and have everything prior)

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 4 August 2003 12:34 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I barely bought anything after Dots & Loops and have now sold that although I kept Aluminum Tunes because it is more fun (I realise that Proper People do not buy Stereolab records because they are 'fun')

― Alex in Rotherham (Alex in Doncaster), Monday, 4 August 2003 12:38 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

AT is probably their most fun record. singles is where they have always shone.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 4 August 2003 12:39 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Emperor is my fave, but recently I've rediscovered Dots and Loops and have been playing it to death. I heart the Lab and am really looking forward to their newie.

― j0e (j0e), Monday, 4 August 2003 12:41 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

that Proper People do not buy Stereolab records because they are 'fun'

On the contrary, they aren't fun enough

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 4 August 2003 12:42 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

The only Stereolab that I own and *don't* really love is Dots & Loops. That said, I've never really understood the hate towards their recent stuff -- wasn't it obvious this is where they were headed the whole time? Anyway, Sound Dust, for example, is great -- if they keep making records, I hope they'll build on the escapist prog-lounge of that.

― dleone (dleone), Monday, 4 August 2003 12:43 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

On the contrary, they aren't fun enough

Agreed, this is why I sold Dots & Loops which gradually revealed itself to be not much fun at all.

― Alex in Rotherham (Alex in Doncaster), Monday, 4 August 2003 12:47 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I'm looking forward to new material. Sound-Dust sounded too predictable, like they were treading water, and I'm at least curious to see if they can get out of that rut. As much as Mary's death was very sad, I'm hoping it's encouraged them to look in new directions in her absence.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 4 August 2003 14:22 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I was hoping Mary's death would lead them to make the radical change they're going to need to make for me to really love them again -- my dream-scenario would have had them changing their name as well as their style. I'm sure Sound-Dust is a fine record, but it's slight switch-ups -- e.g., ooh, lap steel! -- weren't enough to make me want to listen to it very often; I'd like it if Tim could get back in touch with guitar noise, to drop the swing and reconnect with the big fuzzy charge they haven't done in ages. Either that or go dancey for us.

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 4 August 2003 14:43 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

For me the drop-off w/ Stereolab isn't about changes in style or arrangment, it's that the melodies just got less interesting. Somehow the tunes ain't what they used to be, & I think this started changing around Dots & Loops (an album I like a lot, I also dig Cobra & Phases). Listen to the recent stuff for a while & then put on material from the 2nd Switched On/Lo-Fi era, & it doesn't sound like the same songwriters. The tunes on the mid-'90s releases are just incredible.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 4 August 2003 14:48 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Either that or go dancey for us

This could be cool. I remember an Autechre remix (of a song I can't recall) that was completely out of the ordinary for them, and very good. Maybe they should hook up with Matmos or something.

― dleone (dleone), Monday, 4 August 2003 14:57 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

There is an Ae remix on the "Miss Modular" single, although it's more LP5-era fuckery than dancey. Interesting nonetheless.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 4 August 2003 15:05 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Yeah, it wasn't dancey at all, but definitely showed possiblities for them in more electronic realms. I guess the MoM tracks on Dots are also good signifiers.

― dleone (dleone), Monday, 4 August 2003 15:48 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Yeah, it wasn't dancey at all, but definitely showed possiblities for them in more electronic realms. I guess the MoM tracks on Dots are also good signifiers.

Yeah that could have gone further...although like I said I don't think the D&L melodies are quite up to snuff.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 4 August 2003 15:53 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Sound-Dust is great. One of the prettiest, most sparkly albums I've ever heard. While not all of it is pure genius, I'm excited about any new Stereolab because they will always do at least one or two things that just make you go "What the fuck?!"

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Monday, 4 August 2003 16:56 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

[mccarthy spin off bands c/d]

― kieron, Monday, 4 August 2003 20:40 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I'd pretty much written off post-Dots And Loops Stereolab as they seemed to have transmogrified themselves into a Os Mutantes cover band. However, I did really like the same songs as re-recorded on ABC Music, so I figured that it's less of a problem with them, than in how they're recording their albums.

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Monday, 4 August 2003 23:34 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

the only non-worthwhile record is peng!, sound dust is a gorgeous and rather simple sounding pop record. i think they are a highly undervalued band, perhaps from making the music seem effortless?

― keith (keithmcl), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 00:26 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

the only non-worthwhile record is peng!

Madness! There are some flaccid moments sure, but "Super Falling Star", "Mellotron", "Orgiastic", etc... I ask you?

Am I still the only person who actually thinks Emperor Tomato Ketchup has been the least durable record so far?

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 05:49 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

er, yeah you probably are.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 05:51 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Thought so.

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 06:10 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Ever since D&T, I've been hopelessly waiting for the guitar buzz to come back.. I think what made them great was how hypnotic that drone sounded, coupled with the mantra-chanting. When they got rid of that and went lounge the music sounded too 'focused' in a way and didn't allow you to lose yourself in it, as the old stuff did.

― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 06:48 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

They need to stop making records with McEntire and O'Rourke, for a start/change. Maybe get Albini involved, or someone totally out of left field.

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 14:04 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I believe the new record is being recorded with Fulton Dingley, who worked on Cobra and Phases Group and First of the Microbe Hunters.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 14:14 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

It's shallow I know, but the more interviews I read with them the less I liked them. Laetitia in particular comes across as a really patronising, borderline-misanthropic left-libertarian masquerading as an 'anything-is-possible/ people-have-the-power' idealist. Well, she was an acolyte of those humourless reactionaries at Living Marxism, so perhaps we shouldn't be too surprised.

― Mel Starr, Tuesday, 5 August 2003 17:17 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I knew a girl who was involved with Living Marxism - she ended up working at the Daily Telegraph, figures. See the Hitchens' brothers et al.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Saturday, 9 August 2003 11:40 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

i feel sorry for the whole thing -- Mary dies -- that is the worst thing that could have happened

Laetitia may be impatient with fans -- after a hiatus they produce Sound Dust which is such a good record -- so consistent (i love roughly every second song) -- having heard loops and milky i say it is their best album after tomato, perhaps the culmination of that direction in their sound

that tv program Cold Feet had a millenium special episode that reprised cul de sac perfectly, since the drift/ island/ end metaphor worked perfectly for the 'end of time' hoop-la surrounding 0/0/2000 and the possibilities of ths show drifting, out to sea or beached, which it sure ended up doing, even if they didn't think they were drifting then

i liked those promo photos of stereolab, with the power poles vertically alligned with the pictures perspective -- like harry lime as the giant (film) wheel comes to a stop over occupied vienna, a snapshot, on the road to the castle or back ? waiting for the flood ? (i don't stereolab are misanthropic, the fans tiny dots or dust, as if viewed from harry's perspective)

i like this album art, the indication of a peak, however insular, an acknowledgement by the band that they may well be too disconnected from their audience yet wishing to take the chicago computer collaborations to a decent conclusion .. i bet they knew sound dust was make or break time, if not for the group then at least for that sound, which surely they got right on this album tens times more so than on the two albums seemingly leading in that direction, validating for me those experiments along the way -- good on them for acknowledging the alienating potential, yet admitting that this was the peak of that stereolab at least

yes, i think they will go looking for other peaks, somewhere else (Lionel Stander did get to work in hollywood again, after all)

maybe the boo-boos will have to go and a new angle for the lyrics taken with both Marie's terrible departure and the band learning the hard lessons of producing something so good by their own standards even if these didn't meet the demands of their audience -- the artistic journey has been completed -- that concept in light of Marie's death is almost horribly prophetic in a spooky new way, beyond their worst dreams i imagine (is Polanski a real king midas of horror and despair ? dark forces ?) (i do not wish to trivialise _anything_ in saying this)

of course the album + art stands on it's own feet as beautiful music with a variety of sentiment -- most of the band can return to the main land and pursue some other groove -- after a presumably respectful period of meditation and change of trade-name

― george gosset (gegoss), Saturday, 9 August 2003 14:09 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

that was terrific, george

― zebedee (zebedee), Monday, 11 August 2003 15:52 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

five years pass...

"hiatus"

http://www.stereolab.co.uk/news/

― Jeff W, Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:12 (ten years ago) Permalink

Perhaps a necessary thing, really.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:21 (ten years ago) Permalink

diminishing returns for a while now

― velko, Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:22 (ten years ago) Permalink

Question: is the future of Stereolab any different than the past of Stereolab?

― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:24 (ten years ago) Permalink

:( At least Chemical Chords 2 will still come out (and I'm glad I saw them this last tour)

― Chris Barrus (Elvis Telecom), Thursday, 2 April 2009 21:38 (ten years ago) Permalink

yeah, me too! their show last fall was wonderful. still, if anyone deserves a break, it's probably them. they've never gone more than a year or two without an album over the past 20 years, have they?

― tylerw, Thursday, 2 April 2009 21:40 (ten years ago) Permalink

they've never gone more than a year or two without an album over the past 20 years, have they?

There were a couple multi-year gaps in between Sound-Dust, Margerine Eclipse, and Chemical Chords though I think the box set comes in there somewhere.

― Chris Barrus (Elvis Telecom), Thursday, 2 April 2009 21:47 (ten years ago) Permalink

yeah, maybe i'm just thinking that there are always various collections coming out in between records -- never seemed like they disappeared for any significant amount of time.

― tylerw, Thursday, 2 April 2009 21:49 (ten years ago) Permalink

They were great when I saw them live last year. Like, really great, as much fun as the first time I saw them. If this is one of those permananent breaks then they are going out with a bang, at least as far as live music is concerned. I don't think I have any of their albums from the last ten years, but live performance is at least as important to me.

― The Real Dirty Vicar, Thursday, 2 April 2009 21:52 (ten years ago) Permalink

My thoughts on seeing them in September -- if that's the last time I'll ever see them, then the last song I ever saw them do was a great version of "Jenny Ondioline."

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 2 April 2009 22:43 (ten years ago) Permalink

Skipping 915 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I'm in the US, so maybe not relevant, but I ordered early on the day they were announced, and just received my records 2 days ago. Got an email saying they were delayed but no reason why.

― brotherlovesdub, Monday, 13 May 2019 17:26 (one month ago) Permalink

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/10/arts/music/stereolab-reunion.html

― global tetrahedron, Monday, 13 May 2019 17:55 (one month ago) Permalink

So the tracklists are the same across the different versions of these Transient and MAQ reissues, right? It's just physical bells & whistles that are different? I'm always paranoid I'm gonna miss out on sweet bonus tracks.

― One Eye Open, Monday, 13 May 2019 18:39 (one month ago) Permalink

tracklists are the same for the albums (with minor differences noted upthread, mostly extended versions) but there's an extra disc of demos & alternates for each of those:

https://www.discogs.com/Stereolab-Mars-Audiac-Quintet/release/13597140

https://www.discogs.com/Stereolab-Transient-Random-Noise-Bursts-With-Announcements/release/13568005

― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Monday, 13 May 2019 19:06 (one month ago) Permalink

But the tracks are all identical no matter which reissue you buy

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Monday, 13 May 2019 19:10 (one month ago) Permalink

yes, sorry, I misread "version" there

― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Monday, 13 May 2019 19:13 (one month ago) Permalink

I'm in the US, so maybe not relevant, but I ordered early on the day they were announced, and just received my records 2 days ago. Got an email saying they were delayed but no reason why.

Me too, but mine still haven't shipped from Bleep. I got email Friday saying "As this is part of a limited, hand-numbered edition, an additional new run of hand-numbered obi strips are being created for your edition. We will be refunding your postage and couriering this to you as soon as it is available." So it sounds like there was a screw-up somewhere and more orders were taken than there were obi strips created in the first place.

― eatandoph (Neue Jesse Schule), Monday, 13 May 2019 23:49 (one month ago) Permalink

xp thanks sleeve and moodles!

― One Eye Open, Tuesday, 14 May 2019 00:21 (one month ago) Permalink

Should "Lock-Groove Lullaby" end with a lock groove? I've never had an actual record of the album before!

― with hidden noise, Tuesday, 14 May 2019 01:33 (one month ago) Permalink

So it sounds like there was a screw-up somewhere and more orders were taken than there were obi strips created in the first place.
Not quite. Pikey sez: "25 of the original obi strips became damaged and then destroyed."
Because he doesn't know which numbers they were you get one of a new, super limited edition of 25, lucky you.

Like so:
https://muut.com/u/stereolab/s3/:stereolab:GEuN:img_0492.jpg.jpg

― Jeff W, Tuesday, 14 May 2019 19:28 (one month ago) Permalink

my Transient CD is delayed (by the rando I bought it from on Amazon) and I really want it!

― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, 14 May 2019 20:05 (one month ago) Permalink

Interesting mix inspired by Stereolab

https://www.mixcloud.com/MindDaze/290/

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Tuesday, 14 May 2019 20:16 (one month ago) Permalink

Because he doesn't know which numbers they were you get one of a new, super limited edition of 25, lucky you.

Thanks, I didn't see that. Neat-o! I got shipping notifications this morning, too (looks like one of the LPs is coming from the UK).

― eatandoph (Neue Jesse Schule), Tuesday, 14 May 2019 23:00 (one month ago) Permalink

Finally purchased & dropped the needle on the Transient vinyl last night and can't say enough to echo all the other praise for the remastering job, it really does sound phenomenal. A major improvement over the CD I've been listening to for the least 2 decades, audible even on my less-than-hi-fi living room setup.

― One Eye Open, Monday, 20 May 2019 19:38 (four weeks ago) Permalink

woo hoo I won a scratch card! anyone know what the odds are on those?

― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Thursday, 23 May 2019 16:15 (three weeks ago) Permalink

My local guitar shop has half turned into a vinyl shop. they've got MAQ and Transient Random Noise Outbursts in the window, £25 each. Now waiting for payday.

― Dr X O'Skeleton, Thursday, 23 May 2019 16:23 (three weeks ago) Permalink

For those of you who want to get that sweet Tim Gane tone.

Tim’s @stereolabgroop ‘s pedal board - it’ll sound better than it looks. Thanks @chaseblissaudio / Effekt Boutique / @westside_uk pic.twitter.com/T6mhWHVacy
— Stereolab (@stereolabgroop) May 23, 2019

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Thursday, 23 May 2019 18:33 (three weeks ago) Permalink

I got a winning scratch card too.

― Position Position, Thursday, 23 May 2019 19:13 (three weeks ago) Permalink

Any idea what a winning card gets you?

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Thursday, 23 May 2019 20:10 (three weeks ago) Permalink

https://stereolab.ochre.store/

all winners will receive a limited edition 12" EP

― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Thursday, 23 May 2019 20:12 (three weeks ago) Permalink

Sweet! Congrats!

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Thursday, 23 May 2019 20:15 (three weeks ago) Permalink

further updates:

got the Switched On volumes 1 & 3 today, #1 is black vinyl #3 is clear, no scratch cards or numbers but they still have a sticker and custom PVC outer jacket. still the new remasters, just new pressings it seems.

looking at Discogs it seems the scratch cards were only included in the Transient and MAQ reissues?

Switched On (#1) sounds FANTASTIC, it's probably the one I know the best and "Doubt" in particular has lots of revealed detail

― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Thursday, 23 May 2019 23:58 (three weeks ago) Permalink

"Contact" sounds goddamn majestic, best I've ever heard

I bought a Too Pure LP version more than a decade ago and it sounded so bad I returned it, these are a joy to hear

― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Friday, 24 May 2019 00:44 (three weeks ago) Permalink

I hope the Lo Fi and Space Age Bachelor Pad EP's don't get orphaned here in this reissue program, some all time great tracks on those.

― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Friday, 24 May 2019 00:45 (three weeks ago) Permalink

Space Age Bachelor Pad got reissued last year and features liner notes by Tim.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Friday, 24 May 2019 02:45 (three weeks ago) Permalink

Lo Fi has been unavailable for ages, and has never been available digitally. Hope that changes

― I am using your worlds, Friday, 24 May 2019 05:21 (three weeks ago) Permalink

Hi dere I rite thing

https://daily.bandcamp.com/2019/05/24/stereolab-best-albums-guide/

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 24 May 2019 16:01 (three weeks ago) Permalink

I endorse those picks

fwiw I'm pretty sure that the groove on Metronomic Underground is lifted from a Yoko Ono track on Approximately Infinite Universe and not Can

― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Friday, 24 May 2019 16:05 (three weeks ago) Permalink

You're almost certainly right! (I hope I didn't say 'exact sample,' I just meant feel, but you are also correct that Yoko and Can are the gods of the approach.)

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 24 May 2019 16:10 (three weeks ago) Permalink

I wish I could remember the track name!

― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Friday, 24 May 2019 16:14 (three weeks ago) Permalink

hmm searching ILX it seems like ppl think it's "Mind Train" from Fly that was lifted but I swear it was from AIU, slocki also mentioned Gil-Scott Heron?!?!

― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Friday, 24 May 2019 16:16 (three weeks ago) Permalink

Stereolab's politics are not "hard-left".

― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Friday, 24 May 2019 16:16 (three weeks ago) Permalink

?? seems obvious to me

― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Friday, 24 May 2019 16:17 (three weeks ago) Permalink

That banner image is divine.

― Tormund Giantsbabe (Leee), Friday, 24 May 2019 16:19 (three weeks ago) Permalink

So are the versions of the Switched Ons on the new CD box set remastered, or is it just the vinyl editions? Would Switched On Vol. 1 on CD sound better than the original CD issue on Too Pure/Slumberland?

― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Friday, 24 May 2019 16:26 (three weeks ago) Permalink

Well, the lyrics are pretty much textbook Marxism, are they not? Nowt wrong with that but I wouldn't call Marxism hard-left by any stretch.

xxp

― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Friday, 24 May 2019 16:26 (three weeks ago) Permalink

fair, and it also seems they pushed back on that (which I was unaware of):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolab#Lyrics_and_titles

Band members have resisted attempts to link the group and its music to Marxism.

― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Friday, 24 May 2019 16:29 (three weeks ago) Permalink

I'd thought the bass from Metronomic Underground was based on Gil Scott Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", and the bass on the song Emperor Tomato Ketchup was basically Yoko's "Why"

― city worker, Friday, 24 May 2019 16:31 (three weeks ago) Permalink

Band members have resisted attempts to link the group and its music to Marxism.

This kinda reads like a band like dc Talk asking people not to link their music to god, I admit.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 24 May 2019 16:40 (three weeks ago) Permalink

from the horse's mouth:

The first track, 'Metronomic Underground', originally consisted of about about seven riffs that I wanted to lock together like a big band. I was also obsessed with the riffs and rhythms of Sun Ra, Don Cherry and the Plastic Ono Band circa 'Fly'".

The groove and rhythm are clearly from "Mind Train". The bassline's phrasing is similar to the Gil Scot-Heron riff, except "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" riff never modulates, it stays rooted on a single note.

― Οὖτις, Friday, 24 May 2019 16:49 (three weeks ago) Permalink

I agree, but calling Marxism hard-left is still a category error.

― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Friday, 24 May 2019 16:50 (three weeks ago) Permalink

xp Thank ya, that is helpful! I may ask for an edit/update!

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 24 May 2019 17:10 (three weeks ago) Permalink

panned for being hard-left vs. panned hard-left

― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Friday, 24 May 2019 17:13 (three weeks ago) Permalink

Two bald engineers fighting over vinyl warmth.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 24 May 2019 17:14 (three weeks ago) Permalink

On the topic of influences, also posted this on the other Stereolab thread.

I did a big update on my Stereolab Origins playlist. Lots of stuff has been added to spotify since I last updated, so I was able to add about 2 dozen more tracks.

https://open.spotify.com/user/olken2000/playlist/06G3CvbMmQ90bj0KOPWM0b?si=YR5aaK4zR_m3NRdmqs6bSw

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Friday, 24 May 2019 20:00 (three weeks ago) Permalink

just realized I posted this to the wrong thread when it was in response to these discussions.

Stereolab: Classic or Dud

― dan selzer, Saturday, 25 May 2019 00:31 (three weeks ago) Permalink

just realized I posted this to the wrong thread when it was in response to these discussions.

Stereolab: Classic or Dud

― dan selzer, Saturday, 25 May 2019 00:31 (three weeks ago) Permalink

does the bassline in Metronomic Underground ever modulate? it's just that same F octave riff throughout isn't it?

― flappy bird, Saturday, 25 May 2019 23:03 (three weeks ago) Permalink

Social media feed is a constant barrage of merch flogging rn. Not sure what the hard left will think of that.

― Position Position, Sunday, 26 May 2019 11:37 (three weeks ago) Permalink

I dunno, there’s some keen and egalitarian pricing! Sealed originals of ‘Margarine Eclipse’ at a tenner is significantly cheaper than on Discogs, and £15 for t-shirts is alright at that level - Built to Spill were wanting £25 when I saw them recently.

― michaellambert, Sunday, 26 May 2019 11:47 (three weeks ago) Permalink

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