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 (fourteen 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 (fourteen 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 (fourteen 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 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

How is that Monade record btw?

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

low key. I like it.

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

(and have everything prior)

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

[mccarthy spin off bands c/d]

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

er, yeah you probably are.

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

Thought so.

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

that was terrific, george

― zebedee (zebedee), Monday, 11 August 2003 15:52 (fourteen 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 341 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

not that I know of

― too young for seapunk (Moodles), Thursday, 19 November 2015 16:55 (two years ago) Permalink

Nope.

The last one they did didn't even get a soundtrack release. I think there might even be another one I forgot about.

― afriendlypioneer, Thursday, 19 November 2015 18:24 (two years ago) Permalink

Yeah, the last two soundtracks still await a release in any format.

had I missed Joe Dilworth is back on drums or is that actually news?
He's been on the drums since CoA-M started.

If you want to hear what they sound like live (good), there's a free live set on band camp here:
https://dieletztemetro.bandcamp.com/album/the-cavern-of-anti-matter-loop-de-loop-live-acud-05022015

Oh and they've launched a website today as well:
http://www.cavernofantimatter.com

― Jeff W, Thursday, 19 November 2015 22:15 (two years ago) Permalink

ooh thx for that live set!

― tylerw, Thursday, 19 November 2015 22:17 (two years ago) Permalink

New song just showed up on Spotify today: http://open.spotify.com/album/0qJi44vJHJOdvxNfPh6v2B

― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Thursday, 19 November 2015 22:19 (two years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd67wTwBK0I

― afriendlypioneer, Saturday, 21 November 2015 13:17 (two years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/06/listen-cavern-of-anti-matter-tardis-cymbals-track-premiere

― Jeff W, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 19:33 (two years ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

Meantime there's this!

http://www.factmag.com/2016/01/22/fact-focus-stereolab/

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 22 January 2016 19:36 (two years ago) Permalink

Excellent thanks.

Love the last Cavern of Antimatter single (the one on Ghostbox). Their most Stereolabby so far.

― everything, Friday, 22 January 2016 19:58 (two years ago) Permalink

Lots of deep cuts there, looking forward to queuing this up

Xpost

― Check Yr Scrobbles (Moodles), Friday, 22 January 2016 20:12 (two years ago) Permalink

This is helping my tedious Friday afternoon ever so. Thanks!

― Retro novelty punk (Dan Peterson), Friday, 22 January 2016 21:55 (two years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

man, this cavern of antimatter record is sounding great!

― tylerw, Tuesday, 16 February 2016 21:48 (two years ago) Permalink

seven months pass...

New single "I'm the unknown" is gorgeous.

― Ross, Thursday, 13 October 2016 05:37 (one year ago) Permalink

(Cavern of Anti-Matter)

― Ross, Thursday, 13 October 2016 05:37 (one year ago) Permalink

Need that in my life. On the weekend I picked up brand new copies (CDs) of Margarine Eclipse, Chemical Chords and Emperor Tomato Ketchup for $4 each. Very very happy about that, especially Margarine Eclipse which is just so brilliant.

― everything, Thursday, 13 October 2016 06:20 (one year ago) Permalink

New single "I'm the unknown" is gorgeous.
― Ross, Thursday, October 13, 2016 7:37 AM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
(Cavern of Anti-Matter)
― Ross, Thursday, October 13, 2016 7:37 AM (one hour ago)

for a moment I was like "wait, what?!"

― willem, Thursday, 13 October 2016 06:52 (one year ago) Permalink

I think we all were..

― Mark G, Thursday, 13 October 2016 06:53 (one year ago) Permalink

Yep, me too.

Saw a couple of the 1972 re-issues at the weekend but they were expensive (nearly £40 each).

Also saw a re-press of one of the Too Pure albums.

― michaellambert, Thursday, 13 October 2016 11:18 (one year ago) Permalink

one month passes...

"Sound Dust" is an awesome holiday season record. Opening track goes perfect with falling snow.

― Everything Moves Towards The Sun (Ross), Sunday, 11 December 2016 01:14 (one year ago) Permalink

Every time this thread gets bumped I immediately think "the future of the groop... is in doubt."

― Al Moon Faced Poon (Moodles), Sunday, 11 December 2016 01:45 (one year ago) Permalink

three months pass...

Has anyone heard the new Laetitia Sadier?

― Carlotta's Portrait (Ross), Friday, 31 March 2017 00:28 (one year ago) Permalink

yeah I got it the other day, only listened to it once but I liked it.

― flappy bird, Friday, 31 March 2017 01:21 (one year ago) Permalink

https://daily.bandcamp.com/2017/03/27/laetitia-sadier-find-me-finding-you-review/

motorik beat...

swinging with Sadier trademarks, like looping bass, chiming vibes, and soft “ba-ba-ba” backing vocals.

its ok

― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 March 2017 02:24 (one year ago) Permalink

the first song that is. Haven't heard the rest.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 March 2017 02:27 (one year ago) Permalink

It's fine, but kinda similar to the last one. I was hoping for a different sound given the 'Ensemble' credit. Could have done with more guests / different producers actually.

― Jeff W, Friday, 31 March 2017 13:28 (one year ago) Permalink

the first side is a lot better than the second, i think there's some good stuff but it really drags toward the end

― flappy bird, Monday, 3 April 2017 22:48 (one year ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

first of the microbe hunters is so awesome. i kind of wanna walk the earth with a boombox on my shoulder playing "outer bongolia" on repeat til the end of time

― hobbes, Wednesday, May 12, 2010 6:35 PM (six years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

― flappy bird, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 06:15 (eleven months ago) Permalink

Mookie: You killed Radio Raheem!

Cop: Dude, there's only so much "outer bongolia" a man can take...

― Moodles, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 14:39 (eleven months ago) Permalink

so much fun to play along to that song on bass.

― flappy bird, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 17:38 (eleven months ago) Permalink

Just found out my man Sean O wrote 'Bongolia,' which I should've realized years ago.

― afriendlypioneer, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 18:08 (eleven months ago) Permalink

really? do you have a link/source?

i've always been confused by Stereolab's songs pretty much all being credited to Gane/Sadier. did they write the bass lines? there are so many parts and instruments, especially as they go deeper into their career, to the point where Gane's skeletal guitar parts are buried in the mix or totally absent.

― flappy bird, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 18:14 (eleven months ago) Permalink

He's given the credit.

I mean, it doesn't sound too far off from "Fiery Yellow," which is another one of his.

― afriendlypioneer, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 20:21 (eleven months ago) Permalink

yeah i just looked it up on Discogs, him and Andy Ramsay are credited.

― flappy bird, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 20:30 (eleven months ago) Permalink

btw i encourage anyone with a vinyl copy of The First of the Microbe Hunters to listen to Outer Bongolia at 33 1/3 rpm. It's just such a monster groove, and all of the bits that fly in and out of the mix are much easier to catch when it's slowed down. One of the funkiest things they ever did.

― flappy bird, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 20:40 (eleven months ago) Permalink

Here's a wonderful interview. Very unusual to hear Laetitia give such an in-depth retrospective of her career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1L0Uw1BU9s&t=2660s

― Moodles, Friday, 5 May 2017 03:10 (eleven months ago) Permalink

hmmm....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1L0Uw1BU9s&t=2660s

― Moodles, Friday, 5 May 2017 03:12 (eleven months ago) Permalink

grrrr.... try this one

― Moodles, Friday, 5 May 2017 03:12 (eleven months ago) Permalink

Thanks for that great insightful interview, I didn't even know that she was responsable for the Stereolab lyrics and that they were so left wing, somehow I had always thought McCarthy was the marxist band and Stereolab less political.

― Alex in Spree-Athen (alex in mainhattan), Saturday, 6 May 2017 14:29 (eleven months ago) Permalink

three months pass...

I got to see Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble the other night here in Austin, had a great time. The band and music is very much in line with the various solo projects she's had from Monade onward, stripped down, fairly subdued songwriting, not unlike Stereolab, but with more emotional resonance and more open-ended vocal lines. The last time I caught her solo show was with Monade in 2005. The big difference with this new band is that they are more versatile, all playing multiple instruments and everyone contributing vocals. There were lots of nice moments when they all harmonized together. Laetitia also continues to grow as a singer, she's always been good, but I think her voice is actually improving.

The first opening band was Astrobal, from France. They had some nice tunes, including some moments that reminded me of Domenique Dumont. They were very nervous and ended abruptly. While they were playing I kept thinking that their songs sounded very much like the music on Laetitia's new album. Turns out Astrobal is her backing band.

Second band was Heather Trost. Musically, they were fantastic, with great Broadcast-esque jazzy drums and lots of interesting keyboard and guitar melodies interweaving. Unfortunately, their vocals were pretty terrible, very out of tune and bland. The did do a nice cover of "Me and My Arrow".

After the show I bought a vinyl copy of Laetitia's Something Shines album and she was nice enough to sign it "The point is to change it, Matt, w/love! Laetitia".

― Moodles, Thursday, 17 August 2017 16:07 (eight months ago) Permalink

nice, planning on seeing her next week up in denver -- thanks for the report!

― tylerw, Thursday, 17 August 2017 16:10 (eight months ago) Permalink

four months pass...

http://thequietus.com/articles/23842-cavern-of-anti-matter-new-track-listen

avern Of Anti-Matter, the project of Stereolab's Tim Gane, will release a new album in March entitled Hormone Lemonade. Premiering above is lead track 'Make Out Fade Out', a pacy, motorik-driven instrumental cut built around layers of hypnotic, fuzzy guitar.
Hormone Lemonade is the group's third album to see release on their Duophonic label, with the record's catalyst lying in various rhythms committed to tape by band member Holger Zapf, using the Takron Z3 and Z2, over the course of three one-hour studio sessions.
Gane edited these jams into smaller useable parts and further fleshed them out, overdubbing each part with additional musical ideas. The group's Joe Dilworth then added further beats over Gane and Zapf's previous efforts, before Zapf added further sounds with his modular synth set-up.
The album is due out on March 23. You can pre-order it here.

― afriendlypioneer, Thursday, 11 January 2018 14:58 (three months ago) Permalink

Sweet!

― Moodles, Thursday, 11 January 2018 16:04 (three months ago) Permalink

nice — you know, I'm pretty happy with the current Tim / Laetitia situation ... they're both putting out very strong stuff.
willing to bet there's a live reunion of some sort in the near-ish future, but no rush ...

― tylerw, Thursday, 11 January 2018 16:07 (three months ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

Meantime, a slew of albums plus Oscillons is now officially on Bandcamp

https://stereolab.bandcamp.com/music

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 5 February 2018 16:43 (two months ago) Permalink

I've had Dots & Loops on repeat for the last week or so.

― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Monday, 5 February 2018 17:34 (two months ago) Permalink

damn ned i misread your post as "a slew of shows is now on bandcamp"

― flappy bird, Monday, 5 February 2018 17:55 (two months ago) Permalink

for such a beloved and amazing live band there's a relative dearth of recordings out there. every era is represented but often by only a handful of shows. maybe idk where to find them since they're not on archive.org

― flappy bird, Monday, 5 February 2018 17:56 (two months ago) Permalink

two months pass...

can anyone tell me how they get the bass sound on metronomic underground? i'm in love with that muted palm styling that broadcast also uses

― Droni Mitchell (Ross), Saturday, 7 April 2018 08:54 (two weeks ago) Permalink

The original Jazz Bass had felt mutes on the bridge - most likely something like that, or the flip-up mute on the Bass VI, but the tone is more Jazzy.
https://i.imgur.com/8CaHTDN.jpg

― startled macropod (MatthewK), Saturday, 7 April 2018 11:49 (two weeks ago) Permalink

Laetitia’s albums are on Spotify now, thanks to Drag City

― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Sunday, 8 April 2018 04:05 (one week ago) Permalink

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