The future of Stereolab

it's strange how his quest to keep things interesting for himself - compositionally, sonically, etc. - led to such boring results. (I have real problems with most Stereolab stuff post-Cobra Phases) Like his micro-managed approach to random compositions, it sounds like an interesting thing to try but the odds of it producing anything worth listening to seem really low.

During their lifespan there were times when it felt like a bit of a slog staying with them but now it's done it seems like one of the most sublime bodies of work that any band has managed to produce.

it's just interesting that his approach to songwriting became so abstract, almost mechanical. The idea that interesting/engaging work can be produced by following a more or less random set of rules. I mean every songwriter has techniques and tricks and boundaries that they draw on but he seems to have taken it to a very extreme level. And you can hear it in the work produced imo - the songs where every bar is different, or melodies and changes that sound completely random, everything just feeling chopped up and atomized and sort of beyond any standard musical logic. That stuff sounds very alienating to me.

3 Cavern of Anti-Matter tracks are on Spotify (+ a collab w/ Mouse on Mars)

I have a Cavern of Anti-Matter album called Blood-Drums. It's really awesome, actually. I find it much more interesting than the last two or three Stereolab albums.

They're also releasing, or maybe they have released, a single for Ghost Box's "Other Voices" series.

You can still stream that album on Staalplaat's bandcamp, if you were to be so inclined.

http://staalplaat.bandcamp.com/album/blood-drums

I probably can't explain why without just gushing, but I find a lot of Stereolab's most beautiful music came post-Cobra, especially on Sound-Dust and Chemical Chords. While I can perceive how one might see more immediacy in the earlier material, I tend to turn to the later albums more often. The Stereolab Origins videos on YouTube help excerpt some latter-day highlights and give a sense of the band's range, almost as much because of as in spite of the overtness of quotation the videos sometimes reveal. There's no group I miss more.

i prefer the earlier stuff, but i still think there's a lot of great stuff on the latter day releases. gane's discussion of his working methods is pretty interesting -- it doesn't sound like a fun way to make music to me, but it must be rewarding for him.

They're also releasing, or maybe they have released, a single for Ghost Box's "Other Voices" series

Out on December 4th, pre-order from this Friday. Based on the clips on soundcloud and iTunes, the A-side could end up being my track of the year. And for those who like "the earlier stuff", the B-side sounds like a lost instrumental from the Mars Audiac Quintet sessions.

Those tracks sound a lot like both Stereolabs I know and love.

Tim Gane's soundtracks with Sean O'Hagan are very pleasant.

Well this thread revival was all well timed.

http://pitchfork.com/news/62170-stereolabs-tim-gane-announces-cavern-of-anti-matter-album-featuring-bradford-cox-shares-melody-in-high-feedback-tones/

Now, had I missed Joe Dilworth is back on drums or is that actually news?

Tim Gane's soundtracks with Sean O'Hagan are very pleasant.
yeah! if i made movies, i would hire them.

this cavern of antimatter song sounds great!

has anyone on here watched any of the movies they soundtracked?

i haven't! are they available in the states?

not that I know of

Nope.

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

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

ooh thx for that live set!

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

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

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

Meantime there's this!

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

Excellent thanks.

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

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

Xpost

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

man, this cavern of antimatter record is sounding great!

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

(Cavern of Anti-Matter)

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.

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)

I think we all were..

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.

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

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

Has anyone heard the new Laetitia Sadier?

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Mookie: You killed Radio Raheem!

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

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

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

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.

He's given the credit.

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

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

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.