By the time of 1994's Mars Audiac Quintet, Stereolab had already highlighted the rock and experimental sides of its music; now the band concentrated on perfecting its space-age pop. Sweetly bouncy songs like "Ping Pong" and "L' Enfer des Formes" streamline the band's sound without sacrificing its essence; track for track, this may be the group's most accessible, tightly written album. The groove-driven "Outer Accelerator," "Wow and Flutter," and "Transona Five" (which sounds strangely like Canned Heat's "Goin' Up the Country") reaffirm Stereolab's Krautrock roots, but the band's sweet synth melodies and vocal arrangements give it a pop patina. Even extended pieces like "Anamorphose" and "Nihilist Assault Group" -- which could have appeared on Transient Random Noise-Bursts With Announcements if they had a rawer production -- are more sensual and voluptuous than edgy and challenging. It's equally apparent on layered, complex songs such as "New Orthophony" and "The Stars Our Destination," as well as spare, minimal tracks like "Des Etoiles Electroniques," that the members of Stereolab focused their experimental energies on production tricks, vocal interplay, and increasingly electronic-based arrangements. The charming final track "Fiery Yellow" takes the band's fondness for lounge pop and experimentation to the limit; a delicate, marimba-driven piece featuring the High Llamas' Sean O'Hagan, it sounds like the kind of music Esquivel or Martin Denny would be proud to make in the '90s. While it's not as overtly innovative as some of Stereolab's earlier albums, Mars Audiac Quintet is an enjoyable, accessible forerunner to the intricate, cerebral direction the group's music would take in the mid- and late '90s.
Stereolab has just released their first album, Chemical Chords, since 2004's Margarine Eclipse. And what better way to celebrate than to embark on their biggest tour since. They appeared last night and again, tonight at The Fillmore (All ages, $27.50). Some praise for Chemical Chords: "...the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit the MCMB website for full links, free music, great vid...
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A week or so ago I was lobbed a handful of Stereolab CDs to check and have been doing so in the interim...After getting "re-introduced to their Dots and Loops LP,":http://mog.com/CrashPryor/blog_post/15348 the hook was in me and I've been listening to their material at least once a day (this is great shite to check while sitting at your keyboard)...their sound's been described as "space-age bac...
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I had to share this somewhere, with someone. As some of you know, I'm a teacher in the 8th grade. We've been working on research papers lately, which every year is kind of a hassle. There's so much work involving source citations, finding materials, etc, that what is usually a difficult thing becomes a bit impossible at times, even when I'm dealing with top-notch students. Today, though, som...
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A week or so ago I was lobbed a handful of Stereolab CDs to check and have been doing so in the interim...After getting "re-introduced to their Dots and Loops LP,":http://mog.com/CrashPryor/blog_post/15348 the hook was in me and I've been listening to their material at least once a day (this is great shite to check while sitting at your keyboard)...their sound's been described as "space-age bac...
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I got acquainted with Stereolab back in the mid 90's. I was really burnt out on metal (at the time). Everyone was doing grunge or trying to sound like Nirvana or acoustipop crap, or just really horrible death metal. And I was done with it for a bit. The record store we used to have was playing this one day when I walked in and I went straight to the counter and asked about it. I think I bought ...
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happy Sunday....just organizing my paintings.....Stereolab will always be my inspiration.....I think I painted this one in April this year.....MUSIC turns colours in my mind....I LOOOOVEd this song title... (and song) so let's have a colouring contest...who wants to play....?
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Meghan McCain and Stereolab: What Is Going on Here?Hey, it's been awhile. Let's check in with Meghan McCain's blog. What has Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain's daughter been listening to lately? Let's see. She's been rocking some Tokyo Police Club, some Klaxons, some Au Revoir Simone. A Hot Chip remix of the Pharcyde. All right. And... what's this? OK, let me get this straight. F...
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Stereolab has just released their first album, Chemical Chords, since 2004's Margarine Eclipse. And what better way to celebrate than to embark on their biggest tour since. They appeared last night and again, tonight at The Fillmore (All ages, $27.50). Some praise for Chemical Chords: "...the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit the MCMB website for full links, free music, great vid...
More >
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