Stereolab
Mars Audiac Quintet

THE REVIEW

They can be - in fact, they are - excellent and terribly boring in the short span of a track change.

In fact, this is considered one of the best albums by Stereolab, and it contains its two main souls.
The first is made of unmistakable melodies that evoke the best transalpine pop tradition - if only for the authenticity of mademoiselle Sadier - which mix with typically lounge atmospheres, in the sense of the '50s-'60s, not Balearic.
The other is composed of simplified experiments which, in my opinion, are a bit pretentious: nothing atonal or dissonant, here they play with repetitions.
If it wasn't clear, it is when they hit on the first that they become truly enviable, while they result rather dull when they venture along the latter.

Here we have shining examples of pop songs à la Stereolab, some of which have become standards in the band's repertoire, such as the notable Wow and Flutter and Ping Pong.
Other highlights are reached with the electronic ballad Des étoiles électroniques - excuse the repetition -, International Colouring Contest and the opening Three-Dee Melodie.
Other things are listened to with pleasure and curiosity - for example, the very lounge-like closing of Fiery Yellow - while there are no lack of neglectable episodes, if not evidently tedious such as "Anamorphose".

Take it or leave it?
Better a preliminary listen, if possible, with a consequent best playlist on iPod or, alternatively, space carved out on the shelf between Stairs and Sting.