The future of Stereolab

while we're here, never seen this!

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

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

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.

"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

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

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).

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.)

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

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

Huh.

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.

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.

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

Listening to the new release of TRNBWA on spotify. They did a fantastic job with the remaster, it sounds so much clearer than the original.

Transona Five on new MAQ is a bit longer, with an actual ending instead of cutting mid-jam into the next track.

Similarly, Des Etoiles Electroniques also goes longer then stops instead of fading out.

Cool. Anything interesting among the bonus material?

I haven't listened to all of it, but lots of demo versions, plus some extended jams and alternate mixes from TRNBWA.

Just got my vinyl copies. Really, really nice. The went all out with these. I particularly love that they have full song by song liner notes, plus full lyrics for all songs for the first time. I've been wondering about the lyrics on some of these for the past 25 years.

yeh I got the vinyl for both yesterday, nice package, didn't realize the obi was made out of 2inch master tape.
Is this the first time the lyrics have been officially printed? Most of the stuff I got wrong turned out to be in French lol.

The originals had lyrics for about half the songs, these add the rest, although there are some little gaps here and there.

are the reissues like $30

Going for about $25 on Amazon right now.

I didn't match five Clives ;_;

So, is it "Bubble Withdrawal" or wot?

Gahhhh I didn't want to buy new versions of these but they sound great

I didn’t get any liner notes with my vinyl edition of MAQ but a PDF of them does come with the digital version, so I’ve got them at least. Did get the scratch card - haven’t defaced it yet though ( nervous LOL )

This "Melochord Seventy-Five" variant on MAQ is close to unrecognisable, and a bit fabulous IMHO.

Jeff, if you got the new vinyl release of MAQ, it should've come with a big poster featuring the album cover on one side and liner notes on the other. If it didn't have it, I'd consider sending it back and getting a different copy.

Thanks, Moodles. I may just email Pikey and see if I can get it sent separately. I've seen on twitter that others have had problems, e.g. no received Disc 1 but two Disc 3s.

oh man i need these

Differences between the reissue and the original version:

Transient:
"Pause" is 8s longer, it fades out just a little later
"Analogue Rock" is 25s longer, it doesn't fade out

Mars:
"Three-Dee Melodie" is 6s longer, it fades out just a little later
"Transona Five" is 50s longer, it ends properly instead of abruptly
"Des Etoiles Electroniques" is 42s longer and doesn't fade out
"Three Longer Laters" is 14s later and adds something around 1:20 as the fade at the end is the same
"International Colouring Contest" is 8s longer, it fades out on the last note rather than the "bop bop bop"s
"The Stars Our Destination" is 59s longer, it fades out much later
"Fiery Yellow" is 6s longer - just extra bird sounds

I'm usually against this sort of tinkering with history but I think these changes are all positive, and in a few cases a notable improvement.

I have mixed feelings about them. They are interesting to hear, but aren't the definitive versions to me. Kind of a Star Wars extended edition syndrome going on.

Is there a release date yet for Cobra or any of the later albums?

ETK, Dots and Loops, Cobra in August. Sound-Dust and Margerine Eclipse in Nov.

ordered Mars today -- i'm pleased that these reissues are comparatively cheap, they're about the same price as the garbage 1972 issues.

D&L is the only one I have the original vinyl for, but I may order the new one if it is packaged as nicely as these two.

nice! can't wait for Cobra. I'm into the idea of slightly altered mixes/versions here... I already sold all of my vinyl reissues anticipating this

they better put the full length blue milk on the cobra reissue

Maybe it will be EVEN LONGER!

I'm taking that for granted, if the edited version is on there I won't buy the LP.

The demos on the bonus discs are a treat. Laetitia's voice and guitar versions are really beautiful, amazing how fully formed the songs are.

D&L is the only one I have the original vinyl for, but I may order the new one if it is packaged as nicely as these two.

― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles)

I have originals of Dots & Loops, Emperor Tomato Ketchup and Margarine Eclipse, but after getting these reissues yesterday I'm really tempted to sell them on and get the others when they come out. They have done such a brilliant job in sound and presentation. Some of the best vinyl reissues I've ever come across.

this thread is gonna make me have to buy these

It's very worth it. They cost the same as most single LPs, but pack in tons of extras.

OK I went for the 3LP versions of Mars and Transient, also the 2018 Peng and the two Switched On volumes I didn't have (1 and 3). Stoked.

I really like how the tracks are extended. It works out in every case. Hardly even notice it because I'm enjoying myself so much.

Does anyone else find these albums infinitely replayable? I seemingly never tired of MAQ. Like I could probably listen to it daily 'til I'm dead.

Does anyone else find these albums infinitely replayable?

Oh for sure, along with all their odds and ends, it just takes you on a wonderful trip.

Now I'm wondering if they played fast and loose with the 2018 reissues, are any of those tracks longer than previously issued?

yeah I'm not even sure my mouth could form the words "I'm not in the mood to listen to stereolab right now". It would be like trying to speak some unpronounceable hp lovecraft word. Ditto the phrase "that stereolab song was extended too long", just not possible. Gonna pull the trigger on buying soem of these next week, transient and mars at the very least, can not fuckin wait. Very happy to see the good reviews & reports.

yeah I'm not even sure my mouth could form the words "I'm not in the mood to listen to stereolab right now"

I'm a big fan but I can definitely think of a few hypothetical situations in which listening to Stereolab would be torture. I get migraines, and the very idea of listening to this band while suffering from a headache is almost enough to give me one right now

also if it popped up on college radio while driving home from a funeral or something, I dunno