Emperor Tomato Ketchup - Stereolab

Advantages: great music
Disadvantages: some

...be better for a first taste of stereolab I would say Mars Audio Quintet as one of their earlier albums or the slightly more recent Emporer Tomato Ketchup, which is arguably their best. Refried Ectoplasm gives you a broad example of what much of the stereolab sound is about however. This was my first sterelab album though and it remains my favourite, but all the stereolab albums are excellant and well worth a listen sometime.... Read review

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Advantages: Jaunty space pop With 3 good ears for melody.
Disadvantages: Familiarity may breed something much less damning than contempt.

...If the thrill of distant adventures in stereoland is your want then 'Mars Audiac Quintet' is the planet you should visit. Futuristic music that sounds like it was created back in a time when the instruments being used had not been invented. Confused, well you listen to this album and you'll know what i mean. Fronted by the positively frothy laetitia sadlier whose dulcet french tones orbit around beautifully spaced moog surfaces. Most of the tunes appear to be of a similar repetitive nature, so much so, that dizziness after the 'lab is almost inevitable. Tim Gane who writes the music used to be in scottish indie group McCarthy and met Sadlier at one of their gigs. This dreamlike meeting meant that when mccarthy finally split up, Stereolab was born. Stereolab have been experimentalists from the start and are infused with a super... Read review

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Advantages: Flashback To The Intuitive Early Years.
Disadvantages: Fast Forward To The Assured Present Day.

...´Sound Dust´ is Stereolab's current album and apart from being one of this years freshest listens it marks a partial return to form for one the best Anglo/Gallic marriages ever. Time Gane (chords) and Laetitia Sadier (breathy vocals) are Stereolab's prime movers while Sean O'Hagan (Microdisney and The High Llamas) periodically engineers creative bursts from melody drenched guitars. If you haven't become acquainted with Stereolab's unique compositions then 'Refried Ectoplasm (Switched On Volume 2)' is a great starting point. This compilation was released in 1995 and features 3 tunes ('Le Boob Oscillator', 'French Disco' and 'John Cage Bubblegum') not available on any of the bands other albums. It covers a fertile period of time for the band between the release of their debut album 'Switched On' in 1992 to 1995 when they shifted... Read review

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