Stereolab
To me, Stereolab are the perfect balance between pop and experimental. This is totally addictive music yet not always easy listening. Stereolab's roots go way back to the german krautrock scene of the late sixties and seventies; elements from groups like Faust and Neu! are obvious (some tracks border practically on plagiarism!), but are transposed to a pop environment.
It took me quite some time to actually start listening to this group. I knew of them, but back then I was listening mostly to Sebadoh, Sonic Youth or even Rachel's; Stereolab "sounded" way too pop for me... and I just hated the band's name. Realize however that I had not actually heard them at this point, this was just what I perceived them to be. All it took was a short car drive with a friend to change my mind however. I believe I was to be dropped off at work and he had Emperor Tomato Ketchup on the car stereo, I can actually pinpoint to you which song it was: Metronomic Underground. I was immediately hooked to the repetitive beats and pleasant female vocals and the build up in intensity is absolutely breath-taking. It wasn't long before I started purchasing everything I could get my hands on (including singles, which I rarely do!).
My obsession with Stereolab is strongly associated with my first times in Sweden to meet-up with my present wife. They weren't easy times, wasn't allowed to get a job for those six months there, couldn't speak the language, didn't know anyone and some hostility from particular persons in my wife's circle of friends, but Stereolab became an upbeat soundtrack to my life, pulling me out of the blues and helped me through it all. To this day they represent this part of my life and even though I did get rid of all of them (twenty odd CDs) when I moved to Sweden for good (for the second time) and that I don't necessarily listen to them as much as I used to, they will still hold a very special place in my life. I have recently purchased two Stereolab CD lots from eBay at a good price and this helped me refurbish that empty spot once again. More on the way.


Switched On StereolabLabel: Slumberland Records/Too Pure Release: 1992 Format: CD Cat. no: SLUMBERLAND 22 |
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Peng!Label: Too Pure Release: 1992 Format: CD Cat. no: PURE CD 11 |
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The Groop Played Space Age Batchelor Pad MusicLabel: Too Pure Release: 1992 Format: CD Cat. no: PURE CD 19 |
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Low FiLabel: Too Pure Release: 1993 Format: CD Cat. no: BTPCD014 |
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Transient Random-Noise Bursts With AnnouncementsLabel: Elektra Records Release: 1993 Format: CD Cat. no: 9 61536-2 |
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Mars Audiac QuintetLabel: Elektra Records Release: 1994 Format: CD Cat. no: 61669-2 |
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Refried Ectoplasm (Switched On Volume 2)Label: Drag City Release: 1995 Format: CD Cat. no: DC82CD |
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Emperor Tomato KetchupLabel: Elektra Records Release: 1996 Format: CD Cat. no: 61840-2 |
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Dots And LoopsLabel: Elektra Records Release: 1997 Format: CD Cat. no: 62065-2 |
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Miss Modular (Japanese Single)Label: Elektra Records Release: 1997 Format: CD-Single Cat. no: AMCY-2501 |
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Aluminum Tunes (Switched On Volume 3)Label: Drag City Release: 1998 Format: 2CD Cat. no: DC159CD |
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Cobra And Phases Group Play Voltage In The Milky TwilightLabel: Elektra Records Release: 1999 Format: CD Cat. no: 62409-2 |
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The First Of The Microbe HuntersLabel: Elektra Records Release: 2000 Format: CD Cat. no: 0062537 |
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Sound-DustLabel: Elektra Records Release: 2001 Format: CD Cat. no: 62676-2 |
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ABC MusicLabel: BBC/Strange Fruit Release: 2002 Format: 2CD Cat. no: SFRSCD111 |
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Margerine EclipseLabel: Elektra Records Release: 2004 Format: CD Cat. no: 62926 |
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Oscillons From The Anti-SunLabel: Too Pure Release: 2005 Format: 3CD + DVD Cat. no: PURE 160CD |
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Fab Four SutureLabel: Too Pure Records Release: 2006 Format: CD Cat. no: PURE 190CD |
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Chemical ChordsLabel: 4AD Release: 2008 Format: CD Cat. no: CAD2815CD |
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Spool Of Collusion/Forensic ItchLabel: 4AD Release: 2008 Format: 7" Cat. no: AD2820 |
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