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Nov 28, 2018 Stereolab By Dom Gourlay

By this point Stereolab were five albums into their career and widely considered figureheads of a new wave of avant-garde pop bands, their influence undoubtedly paving the way for the likes of Broadcast and The Beta Band. Their last three albums had all received Top 30 placings in the UK albums chart and while something the band would often steer clear of, their status as cult heroes with a strong loyal fanbase was all but secured.

Nevertheless, the band’s ethos never really changed even though appearances on British television programs such as Channel 4’s The Word introduced them to a brand new audience. The late Mary Hansen (who sadly passed away in 1999) had also become an integral part of the band (or “groop” as they often referred to themselves) and her vocal harmonies with Laetitia Sadier were a key component in the band’s more melodic compositions.

However, across its 25 tracks originally compiled in 1998 and newly remastered and reissued on clear vinyl, Aluminum Tunes works best when Stereolab set their sights on reaching the outer limits. The extended version of “New Orthophony”—initially released on third LP, Mars Audiac Quintet—and “Klang Tone,” off the same album’s bonus disc, hint at a band seeking new possibilities while still coming to terms with the present.

Stereolab saw the future, and throughout the ‘90s, grasped it with both hands. (www.stereolab.ochre.store)

Author rating: 8/10