Stereolab ~ “Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night”

Who could not like this? I do believe, dear boy, that after roughly a decade to digest, that this here record is emerging as something quite special in the overall Stereolab discography; absolutely no question whatever. The consistent and satisfying tone that Stereolab head henchman Tim Gane achieves on his rhythmic guitar parts is no doubt simply beyond reproach. If you mingle in “Pet Sounds” era Brian Wilson material with the best of mid-late ‘60’s Cocktail Jazz, then you will mostly have this record in a nutshell. Of course, again with the guitars, there is a Rock element here that must not be missed, tasteful horn arrangements and delicious and ultimately sinful synthesizers bubbling to top it all off with an added sense of goodness.

In a live setting, tunes off of this release get stripped down to their funky essentials and all is right with the world. While I have been guilty of reviewing Stereolab records in the past, I must admit that Cobra is one of a trio of Stereolab highlights, with this record falling right in the middle in order of release. The other two being the epic “Dots & Loops” and the equally sexy “Sound-Dust”…

And so, what was most appealing about Stereolab during the late ‘90’s and the very beginning of this decade, were those amazing sing-song harmonies, and complex vocal arrangements placed upon the voices of Ms. Sadier and the late great Ms. Hansen. It was an undeniable combination, the ultimate ear candy, no question. Individual track highlights contain one of the very best by Stereolab, the sensual Jazzy epic “Infinity Girl”. Growing a bit older in years, I find myself better respecting the more so long-winded pieces such as “Blue Milk”, and I have always found a haunting beauty in the album closer “Come and Play in the Milky Night”.

Fast-forwarding to the present, if you haven’t heard…Stereolab got some US (United States of Canada as well) concert dates scheduled and they’ll drop a bomb on us with the new record “Chemical Chords” in the great month of August…

09-20 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
09-21 Pomona, CA - Glass House
09-24 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
09-26 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
09-27 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
09-29 Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
09-30 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
10-01 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
10-02 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-03 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-04 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-06 Boston, MA - Paradise *
10-07 Montreal, Quebec - Club Soda *
10-08 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre *
10-09 Detroit, MI - The Crofoot *
10-10 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre *
10-12 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
10-14 Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre *
10-17 Seattle, WA - Showbox *
10-18 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom *
10-19 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom *
10-21 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
10-22 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
10-23 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre *
10-24 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern *

* with Monade (The radical Stereolab side-project)

…Light, light…just dig it…

Stereolab, Tim Gane, Laetitia Sadier

Do You Love Writing About Music?
Become A MusicByDay.com Blog Contributer.