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

Count me in with the - not haters, but uninterested. I had High Llamas "Hawaii". Never took to it, sold years ago.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 20:06 (four months ago) Permalink

They have a bunch of albums I like more than Hawaii, but all of their music is extremely mellow.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 20:11 (four months ago) Permalink

Best entry points: Gideon Gaye, Snowbug, Talahomi Way. Those are the most traditional and song-oriented albums, I think. It's the other albums that I think have earned them their reputation of being a band that's not about songs. I love everything they've done.

― afriendlypioneer, Wednesday, 5 December 2018 15:40 (four months ago) Permalink

I had that Gideon Gaye - it started off very songy, then it got overstuck on a riff for what seemed like hours. Brainticket/Cottonwoodhill be blowed!

― Mark G, Wednesday, 5 December 2018 15:46 (four months ago) Permalink

"track goes by" is one of the best stuck-on-a-riff songs ever

looks the 'lab are playing primavera next year ...

― tylerw, Wednesday, 5 December 2018 19:24 (four months ago) Permalink

whoa

― flappy bird, Wednesday, 5 December 2018 19:32 (four months ago) Permalink

Can Cladders and Beet, Maize, & Corn are also quite good

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Thursday, 6 December 2018 02:16 (four months ago) Permalink

I dare say all of Stereolad* would be happy to join a touring lineup of Stereolab, but there should be a second female vocalist/etc as well

* !!! have toured as their own opening act, playing a set of Stereolab covers, with singer Nic Offer wearing a frock

― sans lep (sic), Thursday, 6 December 2018 05:11 (four months ago) Permalink

I wish I could audition for Stereolab. I could knock out those bass riffs no problem.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Thursday, 6 December 2018 05:30 (four months ago) Permalink

I wish I could audition for Stereolab

OK, new lyrics for Ray Davies to pen..

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

― Mark G, Friday, 7 December 2018 10:09 (four months ago) Permalink

The Aluminum Tunes vinyl release has really brought home for me what a massive collection it is. I think it didn't really sink in originally because I had been experiencing the various parts of it in bits and pieces as EPs and singles. But coming back to it now, it's just a monumental piece of work. It feels like a coherent whole, probably one of their better releases.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Wednesday, 12 December 2018 04:33 (four months ago) Permalink

I find their non-LP work more enjoyable than their proper albums. I think the one-off approach was more conducive to experimentation and transcending their obvious influences.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 12 December 2018 14:38 (four months ago) Permalink

Just got the clear vinyl version of Peng! Really hoping it sounds better than the last reissue, although I'm not feeling very optimistic.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Wednesday, 12 December 2018 21:37 (four months ago) Permalink

"track goes by" is one of the best stuck-on-a-riff songs ever
― tylerw, Wednesday, December 5, 2018 7:24 PM (one week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Track Goes By was one of the highlights when I saw them play a couple of years ago, although they didn't stretch it out for fifteen minutes, sadly.

The catchily-titled Retrospective Rarities And Instrumentals compilation is a pretty good overview of their albums up to Snowbug, it's up on Spotify along with pretty much everything else.

― Brainless Addlepated Timid Muddleheaded Awful No-Account (Pheeel), Wednesday, 12 December 2018 22:08 (four months ago) Permalink

Similar to the Peng! reissue, Space Age Bachelor Pad Music comes with nice liner notes by Tim describing how they wrote and recorded all the tracks.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Wednesday, 26 December 2018 19:46 (three months ago) Permalink

one month passes...

It's happening:

Stereolab Set To Perform at Desert Daze 2019,
First Announced North American Appearance In Over A Decade
Festival Returns October 10th - 13th to Moreno Beach in Lake Perris, CA; Limited Early Bird Tickets Available Now via https://desertdaze.org

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 12 February 2019 18:28 (two months ago) Permalink

Moreno Beach in Lake Perris, CA

a literal shit hole, yikes.

― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Tuesday, 12 February 2019 18:34 (two months ago) Permalink

can only hope this means a bay area stop

― akm, Tuesday, 12 February 2019 20:34 (two months ago) Permalink

have they announced anything except festival dates so far?

― tylerw, Tuesday, 12 February 2019 20:36 (two months ago) Permalink

The Paris date, while technically part of a festival, is at least indoors *checks Eurostar timetable*

― Jeff W, Tuesday, 12 February 2019 20:40 (two months ago) Permalink

I'm very strongly considering going to this with my son. Death Grips, King Gizzard, and My Bloody Valentine are like his dream lineup.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Tuesday, 12 February 2019 21:21 (two months ago) Permalink

Those were last year's performers, FYI

― DT, Tuesday, 12 February 2019 21:24 (two months ago) Permalink

Uh oh. Well that changes things...

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Tuesday, 12 February 2019 21:26 (two months ago) Permalink

i saw their second-to-last U.S. show in 2008, i guess. Richard Swift opened. : /

― omar little, Tuesday, 12 February 2019 21:29 (two months ago) Permalink

Please god let there be a full U.S. tour. I never got to see Stereolab and never thought I would.

― flappy bird, Tuesday, 12 February 2019 22:35 (two months ago) Permalink

I did not attend the 2018 Desert Daze since I really haven't gone to a major music fest since Lollapalooza was a touring entity. But the lineup looked really good and a friend of mine performed in the area where they were doing ambient sets. I might actually go to this one.

― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Wednesday, 13 February 2019 00:08 (two months ago) Permalink

I was there, and despite some bad calls on logistics and an electrical storm that ended Tame Impala after less than 15 minutes, the Lake Perris site was actually a good one (seeing that big storm come across the lake at us was wild) and the lineup was great. (They did put Ty Segall and White Fence on for the last set of the festival at around 2:30 Monday morning, so also not ideal)

― by the light of the burning Citroën, Wednesday, 13 February 2019 00:14 (two months ago) Permalink

Not to throw cold water on this reunion, I'm eager to see them too, but their last tour was easily the weakest of many that I saw. They got out of sync on a couple songs,which was a bit of a trainwreck, and they seemed to lack passion overall.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Wednesday, 13 February 2019 02:38 (two months ago) Permalink

I enjoyed that last tour! (Which was more than 10 years ago.) Amazing great career-spanning setlist.

― everything, Thursday, 14 February 2019 19:50 (two months ago) Permalink

yeah, the 2008 show i saw was fantastic

― tylerw, Thursday, 14 February 2019 20:19 (two months ago) Permalink

Yeah the last time I saw them, I felt that the band had adjusted to the inevitable loss of Mary and had found a good new approach, whereas the tour before that -- the one that was the first after her death -- you could tell that her absence still hung heavy.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 14 February 2019 20:59 (two months ago) Permalink

I think I didn't like how male-centric the later versions of the band got. I loved Mary and was devastated when she died, but I think they should've tried to replace her. Maybe they weren't interested or just felt like she was irreplaceable, but that dynamic was very important to who they were as a band, especially in a live setting.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Thursday, 14 February 2019 21:38 (two months ago) Permalink

assuming they'll form a similar lineup this time, but if they were to look for another female vocalist, does anyone come to mind we may already know?

― flappy bird, Thursday, 14 February 2019 22:49 (two months ago) Permalink

Margaret Fiedler?

― an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Thursday, 14 February 2019 23:23 (two months ago) Permalink

Mary Hampton, who sang on the 2nd Imitation Electric Piano album would be good, or maybe Rosie from Pram?

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Friday, 15 February 2019 00:09 (two months ago) Permalink

Morgane Lhote is still making music

― dan selzer, Friday, 15 February 2019 00:57 (two months ago) Permalink

Her absence from Stereolab was also significant, she was their best keyboard player.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Friday, 15 February 2019 02:29 (two months ago) Permalink

while we're here, never seen this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJRb-5Gh3wc

― flappy bird, Friday, 15 February 2019 05:31 (two months ago) Permalink

Very nice, don't think I've ever seen any of that either.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Friday, 15 February 2019 05:51 (two months ago) Permalink

Yeah, I have an old VHS comptape bought at a record fair, lots of live bits, vids and interviews. This looks much like it came from that, quality wise.

― Mark G, Friday, 15 February 2019 09:03 (two months ago) Permalink

"Yeah the last time I saw them, I felt that the band had adjusted to the inevitable loss of Mary and had found a good new approach, whereas the tour before that -- the one that was the first after her death -- you could tell that her absence still hung heavy."

I miss her voice

― | (Latham Green), Friday, 15 February 2019 18:48 (two months ago) Permalink

from all the live recordings I've heard, she had remarkably good pitch/voice control

― flappy bird, Friday, 15 February 2019 18:56 (two months ago) Permalink

I recently learned that Gina Morris (Stereolab's original co-singer from 1990-1992, NME writer) is now in Australia (where Mary, her replacement, was from).

― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Friday, 15 February 2019 18:58 (two months ago) Permalink

Interesting. In Melbourne rather than Queensland, I see. Married the dude from the Paradise Model, who toured with Stereolab in 1998! (Though she wouldn't have been in the entourage on that tour, presumably.)

― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Saturday, 16 February 2019 03:52 (two months ago) Permalink

Far out, the Paradise Motel guys were all friends of mine when the band started out. And I was a Stereolab obsessive.

― an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Saturday, 16 February 2019 05:08 (two months ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

Stereolab are confirmed to play the Pitchfork Festival on July 20th 2019.

― mookieproof, Wednesday, 6 March 2019 16:23 (one month ago) Permalink

Huh.

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 12 March 2019 00:13 (one month ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

7" Alternate Mix version of "Wow and Flutter" now available on streaming services. According to Tim, he wishes this version had been on MAQ. Definitely more driving and dense than the album version.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Wednesday, 3 April 2019 14:57 (three weeks ago) Permalink

I like the original version. I feel like they lost something by getting away from the simpler driving banging it out stuff. A happy medium would've been best? Regardless glad I signed up for this mailing list, the last Lab report was epic.

― dan selzer, Wednesday, 3 April 2019 15:23 (three weeks ago) Permalink

the early version of French Disco on these new reissues is also way better than the original single version, crunchier and more driving

― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Wednesday, 3 April 2019 15:50 (three weeks ago) Permalink

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