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 (nine years ago) Permalink

Perhaps a necessary thing, really.

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

diminishing returns for a while now

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

Skipping 699 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I always thought it was a gun based on the cover of Peng!
https://archive.beggars.com/wp-content/uploads/Stereolab-Peng.jpg

― You guys are caterpillar (Telephone thing), Thursday, 16 August 2018 13:36 (two months ago) Permalink

It is the final frame of a already-existing cartoon series where a man's finger turns into a gun and then shoots. The next frame in the series is the band's cover for their album "Peng!"-- German for "bang", I believe

― flamboyant goon tie included, Thursday, 16 August 2018 13:44 (two months ago) Permalink

it's a finger transforming into a gun

http://www.koly.com/stereolab/ex-cliff.php

― ( X '____' )/ (zappi), Thursday, 16 August 2018 13:45 (two months ago) Permalink

Ah, here you go. Some fine morning reading: https://dangerousminds.net/comments/the_intriguing_origins_of_cliff_the_cartoon_character

― flamboyant goon tie included, Thursday, 16 August 2018 13:46 (two months ago) Permalink

― flamboyant goon tie included, Thursday, 16 August 2018 13:47 (two months ago) Permalink

Apols for my random accidental post up there.

― Tim, Thursday, 16 August 2018 14:00 (two months ago) Permalink

Sad to see she's playing this festival in Israel in September, along with many other artists (Kamasi Washington, Flying Lotus, Of Montreal, Faust, Battles, etc.) I would've expected more from (that is: declining to play). Ugh.
https://bdsmovement.net/meteor

― jaywbabcock, Thursday, 16 August 2018 15:35 (two months ago) Permalink

one month passes...

Duophonic reissues of the 3 Switched On volumes on clear vinyl out today. Ordered Refried Ectoplasm and Aluminum Tunes. Hoping Amazon will get some copies of Vol. 1 in stock too.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Friday, 28 September 2018 14:51 (two weeks ago) Permalink

25% discount to Spiked subscribers!

Sorry. I'll fuck off now!

― calzino, Friday, 28 September 2018 14:57 (two weeks ago) Permalink

I've pre-ordered from Warp. Hopefully they arrive today or tomorrow. I'm curious if they'll sound any better. On a related note, I've got an original clear vinyl pressing of Refried Ectoplasm I need to sell now if anyone is interested. Would also trade it for a single I need.

― brotherlovesdub, Friday, 28 September 2018 15:29 (two weeks ago) Permalink

We'll see. I have high hopes since they expressed a strong desire to have quality vinyl versions.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Friday, 28 September 2018 15:30 (two weeks ago) Permalink

I received Aluminum Tunes yesterday, sounds fantastic. I had forgotten how much classic material is on it because I associate a bunch of it with the original EPs. For example, Music for the Amorphous Body Study Center is one of my absolute favorites, a really cool and mellow transitional piece between MAQ and ETK. It showed they were starting to explore new directions, but wasn't as radical a shift as ETK.

Refried Ectoplasm is currently AWOL, don't know what happened. I plan to order Switched On soon. I saw on Amazon that they have listings for clear vinyl releases of Peng! and Space-Age Bachelor Pad Music coming in November. I assume these are part of the same series, but I don't really know anything about how this all came about, if anything was remastered, or if they are putting out the whole catalog.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Tuesday, 2 October 2018 13:29 (two weeks ago) Permalink

i got my refried ectoplasm a couple days ago, still waiting on my aluminum tunes.

hopefully they are repressing MAQ / ETK / D&L next

― the late great, Tuesday, 2 October 2018 16:55 (two weeks ago) Permalink

how's Refried Ectoplasm sounding? I'm very worried Amazon is going to surprise cancel my order.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Tuesday, 2 October 2018 17:16 (two weeks ago) Permalink

should I sell my 1972 reissues of the main Stereolab albums? i.e. Transient thru Sound-Dust. I could use the cash assuming Duophonic is going to reissue them properly within the next year or two.

― flappy bird, Tuesday, 2 October 2018 17:17 (two weeks ago) Permalink

honestly, it isn't really clear to me what the story is behind these new reissues. I haven't been able to find out any information about whether they were actually remastered or are different in any way from other pressings. Also have no idea if they are going to reissue any of the Elektra stuff.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Tuesday, 2 October 2018 17:19 (two weeks ago) Permalink

According to here: https://stereolab.ochre.store/ ...

The Switched On compilation reissue series is out now, via Duophonic UHF Disks. Consisting of 1992's Switched On, 1995's Refried Ectoplasm [Switched on Volume 2] and 1998's Aluminum Tunes [Switched on Volume 3], each disk has been remastered by Calyx Mastering of Berlin.

― dronestreet, Tuesday, 2 October 2018 17:33 (two weeks ago) Permalink

well the 1972 reissues were mastered from CD's (hence the shortened version of "Blue Milk") so anything is an improvement, especially if it's coming from Duophonic. I doubt Gane would sign off on anything of dubious sound quality, especially after he called the 1972 reissues "completely unlistenable" or whatever.

― flappy bird, Tuesday, 2 October 2018 18:07 (two weeks ago) Permalink

Cool, that's what I would assume too. Don't know if those 1972 Elektra ones are going to be replaced soon or not.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Tuesday, 2 October 2018 18:20 (two weeks ago) Permalink

refried ectoplasm sounds pretty good to my ears!

― the late great, Tuesday, 2 October 2018 19:03 (two weeks ago) Permalink

i bet it would sound even better if it wasn’t on cruddy clear vinyl

― the late great, Tuesday, 2 October 2018 19:07 (two weeks ago) Permalink

finally showed up, listening now, sounds good. Is there something particularly bad about clear vinyl? Isn't just the same as black vinyl without any coloring added?

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Tuesday, 2 October 2018 20:13 (two weeks ago) Permalink

I saw on Amazon that they have listings for clear vinyl releases of Peng! and Space-Age Bachelor Pad Music coming in November. I assume these are part of the same series, but I don't really know anything about how this all came about, if anything was remastered

according to Pikey, "Calyx remastered. Beggars reissues. Couple slight artwork amendments: from memory, address and publishing (info)"

― Jeff W, Tuesday, 2 October 2018 20:37 (two weeks ago) Permalink

I'll be very glad to replace my terrible copy of Peng!

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Tuesday, 2 October 2018 20:38 (two weeks ago) Permalink

Is there something particularly bad about clear vinyl?

not really just being picky purist

― the late great, Wednesday, 3 October 2018 05:26 (two weeks ago) Permalink

Apologies if this has already come up, but was looking into Peter Strickland (Katalin Varga, Berberian Sound Studio, The Duke of Burgundy)'s new thing In Fabric yesterday, since he's pulled in such great collaborators for his previous films (respectively: a mishmash of Broadcast/Ghost Box's Roj and Nurse With Wound, Broadcast, and Cat's Eyes), and In Fabric's original score will be a Cavern of Anti-Matter release!

― You guys are caterpillar (Telephone thing), Wednesday, 3 October 2018 14:24 (two weeks ago) Permalink

I got all three in the mail last night and I have to say, i'm more than a little disappointed. Switched On sounds pretty bad. Inside cuts on both sides are unlistenable, High Expectations vocal sounds terrible, lots of sibilance all over. The album doesn't sound that dynamic anyway, but this pressing is no improvement on my other copy. Also, the 'Limited Edition' tag was clearly only a marketing ploy, as these albums are absolutely everywhere in mass quantities. I ended up paying much, much more to get these from Bleep than I would have paid at my local shop. Aluminum Tunes sounded OK, but I only played 2 of the 3 records. Didn't play Vol. 2 at all so can't comment. Maybe my copy of Switched On just needs to be cleaned properly, but it mostly sounded terrible. Why hasn't anyone from the band come out and endorsed these represses? I feel like the fans are getting duped on this shit.

― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 4 October 2018 15:23 (two weeks ago) Permalink

Yikes! I haven't heard Switched On yet. Aluminum Tunes sounds good to me. Refried Ectoplasm is fairly good, although a bit on the harsh side. Haven't heard any obvious distortion on either.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Thursday, 4 October 2018 15:56 (two weeks ago) Permalink

Oh no that is terrible news

I got all three a few days ago but haven’t listened... I have an original Refried, I will compare, but it’s really Switched On I was most excited about

― fgti is for (flamboyant goon tie included), Thursday, 4 October 2018 16:32 (two weeks ago) Permalink

Searching around to see if others have run into the same issue (I'm in the middle of rewiring my whole audio setup and haven't had a chance to check the records), I am just now learning about the apparent propensity PVC sleeves have for damaging vinyl over the long term, so that's going to be a fun expedition over the next week or so...

― You guys are caterpillar (Telephone thing), Thursday, 4 October 2018 16:50 (two weeks ago) Permalink

I noticed a few skips on the inner grooves of side one of ‘Switched On’, wasn’t sure if it was just my copy. Haven’t cleaned it.

― michaellambert, Thursday, 4 October 2018 17:18 (two weeks ago) Permalink

On a related note, I think i'm going to pull the trigger on an Okki Nokki soon. I love Switched On so much. This poor pressing is really disappointing to me.

― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 4 October 2018 17:26 (two weeks ago) Permalink

are the others sounding ok to you?

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Thursday, 4 October 2018 17:28 (two weeks ago) Permalink

Switched On is my favourite Stereolab release and Au Grand Jour* one my my favourite all-time tracks

― fgti is for (flamboyant goon tie included), Thursday, 4 October 2018 17:44 (two weeks ago) Permalink

I've only played discs 1 and 2 of Aluminum Tunes (in addition to both sides of Switched On), but they sounded good. I believe there was IGD on one side of the Aluminum Tunes, but it wasn't as bad as Switched On. I don't have the OG Aluminum Tunes, but I do have the OG for Refried Ectoplasm, and I'll compare the OG to the clear remaster tonight if I have time.

― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 4 October 2018 17:54 (two weeks ago) Permalink

I have an OG ‘Aluminum Tunes’ but no remaster to compare it to. Got my copy fairly cheap as i was a bit scratched in places. Had considered replacing it with th new one but playing it now and it tracks surprisingly well through the scratches (so far) and generally sounds really good.

― michaellambert, Thursday, 4 October 2018 19:10 (two weeks ago) Permalink

I got a bunch of emails about their releases on bandcamp

https://stereolab.bandcamp.com/

I miss my dots and loops cassette I made from cd for my walkman - best sound ever

― | (Latham Green), Thursday, 4 October 2018 20:05 (two weeks ago) Permalink

http://www.koly.com/stereolab/bootswitch.php

I'm pleased to see this is still on the web

― | (Latham Green), Thursday, 4 October 2018 20:14 (two weeks ago) Permalink

does anyone know where to get cd's/lp's anyway? i'm stuck

― alexsuponya, Thursday, 11 October 2018 20:35 (one week ago) Permalink

I picked up the Switched On CD boxset on the weekend which I'm quite pleased about. From the local record store, which I'm also quite pleased about. I already own multiple copies of the first two but never owned Aluminium Tunes so that's all I've listened to so far. Sounds great. As a package it's as basic as can be but no complaints.

― everything, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:49 (two days ago) Permalink

There's just so much on Aluminum Tunes. It's kind of hard to fathom how much they were cranking out at their peak.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:59 (two days ago) Permalink

True. The whole box only covers 6 years of material. And at the same time released like 7 albums (which are all brilliant). Quite extraordinary.

― everything, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 22:12 (two days ago) Permalink

The packaging on these re-issues is I guess the same as before but man is it ever good

― fgti is for (flamboyant goon tie included), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 22:13 (two days ago) Permalink

On the CDs the artwork is all included in a foldy-out thing but at least for Refried Ectoplasm the layout and materials are quite inferior to the original issue.

― everything, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 22:24 (two days ago) Permalink

― You guys are caterpillar (Telephone thing), Wednesday, October 3, 2018 11:24 AM (two weeks ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

nice

― Ross, Wednesday, 17 October 2018 15:35 (yesterday) Permalink

I only purchased Refried. It sounds ok to my ears. Packaging looks cool but is a bit weird, no vinyl folder so to speak. It will fall apart if it’s not in a sleeve. Looking at past reissues it has always been intended to look this way though.

― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Wednesday, 17 October 2018 15:45 (yesterday) Permalink

Oscillons is my fave Stereolab comp, also kinda shows paths they could have went down but did not, great stuff with mary on there as well

― Ross, Wednesday, 17 October 2018 15:47 (yesterday) Permalink

y'all saw this, right? Whatever it is, it's coming in two weeks.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BowYapnDVlJ/?taken-by=duophonic_uhf_disks

― Jeff W, Wednesday, 17 October 2018 17:04 (yesterday) Permalink

Intriguing

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Wednesday, 17 October 2018 17:43 (yesterday) Permalink

True. The whole box only covers 6 years of material. And at the same time released like 7 albums (which are all brilliant). Quite extraordinary.

agreed, but knowing how much they were knicking from other artists kinda blunts it a bit for me

― frogbs, Wednesday, 17 October 2018 17:57 (yesterday) Permalink

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