December 24, 1998
Lou Reed once claimed that "One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three and you're into jazz." If we take this argument to its logical conclusion, any band who primarily focuses on one chord must be the greatest rock and roll band on earth. Stereolab, anyone?
Easily one of the most provocative, influential and innovative bands of the decade, Stereolab recycles sounds previously ignored in rock - breezy 50's lounge-pop, white-noise single chord drones a la "Sister Ray", and samples of old stereo phasing test records - and wraps them up in a seductive French accent, served with a heaping side of anarchist rhetoric. Fronted by the gloriously honey-voiced Laetitia Sadier, Stereolab were among the first to bring the bone-rattling, gurgling Moog synthesizer back to rock, using its fluttering tones as the stretched canvas on which they slather on ringing guitar and hypnotic drums.
Transient Random Noise-Bursts With Announcements is among their most experimental and loudest work to date, and often their most beautiful, as the bossa nova "Pack Yr Romantic Mind" demonstrates. The "one chord" statement is over simplifying - Stereolab construct immediate, memorable melodies over their baseline drones. The remarkable "Jenny Ondioline" sinks an organ-driven F# into your skull for 18 minutes while the beat drives relentlessly and the vocals circle ever higher in a harmonic/counter melodic ballet; despite the length, it's never dull. There is a lot more going on here than first meets the ear, and repeated listens only deepen your appreciation of their dense, grooving song structure.
This unironic appreciation for lovely pop melodies and affection for ambient drones makes these analog/digital auteurs one of this generation's most distinctive talents. Use those Christmas gift certificates on this album or, if you prefer more varied rhythms and textured electronic influences, their equally stunning, more accessible Emperor Tomato Ketchup. Preferably, get both. Either way, you need to hear Stereolab. As one of my all-time favorite bands, this recommendation is my Christmas gift to you, dear reader. Happy Holidays.
- Jared O'Connor
Wow and flutter