new stereolab EP

[earl grey]

has anyone heard the new stereolab EP? what's it like? i used to adore them and still do, really, though they lost me from the last third of cobra and phases group... on. but from transient random noise bursts... through dots and loops, they did no wrong in my book.

without mary hansen, i figured they were done - curious to see what direction they go in. (or, don't go in given the last record....)

[jef]

Have you heard Sound-Dust, they're last full length? I have been a big Stereolab fan in the past, but that album is my absolute favorite. I highly reccomend that you listen to that one.

I haven't heard the new ep yet, but I'll probably get it soon. I've heard good things about it.

[earl grey]

i got sound-dust right when it came out and actually wasn't too into it - it sounded like a watered down version of cobra and phases group to me, which was already a little long in spots. (i think it's "blue milk" on the latter that loses me - i love the first 9 cuts on that album.) though my copy of sound-dust got stolen from my car early on, so i haven't given it as much time as the others. and the versions of sound-dust songs on ABC music (the BBC sessions) are great. perhaps i should give it another listen.

i lost about 30 other CD's with that break-in - a painful, painful moment.

[jef]

I feel your pain. About 5 or 6 years ago, my car was broken into. I got a book of 100 cd's stolen, and all of my camera equipment.

[johansen smith]

Stereolab was the first band I REALLY got into, and I had all their albums and EPs, and then somewhere along the line, they started to just keep doing the same thing over and over. I actually LOVED Cobra and Night Phases... and the EPs that preceeded their last album, but Sound-Dust may be one of the most depressingly unlistenable albums I've ever tried to slog thru. I still hold out hope that they'll become interesting again, maybe with this EP.

[jef]

Gosh, that's strange how that happens, but I think MOST people didn't like it for some reason.

I thought the songs on Sound-Dust were all just amazing. I like how they started incorporating some different instruments on it, and how it was a bit less electronic(?) sounding.

[bmmello]

I loved, loved, LOVED Sound-Dust. I can't understand all the hate.

And the new EP is very good, but I wouldn't say it's better than Sound-Dust.

[earl grey]

it's less hate, more disappointment in the little new ground i thought it struck. pretty much every stereolab release up through cobra and phases group blew me away - always adding new elements to their sound, taking it in a new direction - and i think sound-dust was the first one where it sounded like they were just running in place.

i'd probably feel differently if it was the only stereolab album like it, but if i want to hear the chill, lounge-pop stereolab i'll just reach for dots and loops or cobra and phases group instead.

[bmmello]

heh congrats on the 100th post

[johansen smith]

Originally posted by earl grey
it's less hate, more disappointment in the little new ground i thought it struck. pretty much every stereolab release up through cobra and phases group blew me away - always adding new elements to their sound, taking it in a new direction - and i think sound-dust was the first one where it sounded like they were just running in place.

i'd probably feel differently if it was the only stereolab album like it, but if i want to hear the chill, lounge-pop stereolab i'll just reach for dots and loops or cobra and phases group instead.

exactly.