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Stereolab try again. To create anthologies that are not boring and predictable best-ofs. After the collection of all the live sessions recorded at the BBC studios released in 2003, it's time for a delightful box set consisting of three CDs including all the EPs produced by the band throughout their career and a DVD containing videos and three extraordinary live TV appearances in the UK. Those familiar with Stereolab know the importance they assign to the EP format. Therefore, these songs are not B-sides. In fact, besides including some of the most famous and beautiful songs (from the extraordinary Kraut-rock tribute Jenny Ondioline to the pop gems Ping Pong and Cybele's Reverie), the collection is sprinkled with several unrecognized treasures. The hypnotic chant of Escape Pod or the other Kraut-psychedelic tribute of Nihilist Assault Group, for example, would suffice.
The main reason why Stereolab have always remained a cult phenomenon is evident from listening to these CDs. Stereolab have never been easily categorizable. Nor have they started a movement imitated by other bands. Too refined to be appreciated by the pop/rock audience, too pop to penetrate the circle of intellectual music aficionados (intellectualoid?). Yet this trait is also the most fascinating one, the continuous citation and mixing of the high references of music history with the more popular ones generates that short circuit that substantiates and gives originality to their music. As if popular, experimental, and sophisticated music were constantly forced to reflect one on the other. And therefore never taking themselves for granted. Continuously setting in motion, questioning the very existence of such a boundary. This is ultimately what Stereolab have done. And it's not a small feat. Then the fact that the price-to-product ratio is absolutely the most advantageous ever marketed (less than 24 euros for 3 CDs and a DVD) should push hordes of fans and newcomers to purchase. Indeed: the three live appearances contained in the DVD would be enough on their own: Ping Pong is everything music should be: pop, fast, hypnotic, essential. Cybele's Reverie and Les Hyper-Sound are Stereolab combining pop with exploration. Melody and refined arrangements. And off with the Moog!
And it is also the only chance to revisit the interplay of vocal harmonies between Laetitia Sadier and Mary Hansen given the latter's premature, tragic passing. RIP.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Fluorescences (03:23)
l: Lætitia
m: Mary
l:
I looked at the sun through filters
A hit that drove out lots of colours
I took off high like a feather
Blown to the ground on my shoulder
m:
you fell
are you ok?
do you need a hand?
l:
i'm ok
let me go
go away
i'm alright
leave me here
go back home
i'm ok
you just go
i could hear two sounds in the air
the leaving steps of a guilty sister
the other sound was the water
i leaned and looked into her river
m:
thanks for the favour
the world little sister(?)
l:
i'm ok
i feel good
i can breathe
fill my soul
i'm ok
feeling good
why do i
swim in blood
(noodle noodle)
l:
i looked at the sun through filters
the hate it drove out lots of colours
took off high like a feather
blown to the ground on my shoulder
m:
thanks for the favour
the world little sister(?)
l:
i'm ok
i feel good
i can breathe
fill my soul
i'm ok
feeling good
why do i
swim in blood?
l:
i'm ok
i feel good
i can breathe
fill my soul
i'm ok
feeling good
why do i
swim in blood?
m:
la la la la la...
02 Allures (03:29)
Allures
You ask and not
Remain forever
In a state of infertility
No, you ask and not
Remain forever
In a state of Infertility
No, they sure will have to come out
(They sure will have to come out)
One day in the big world, the big world
(One day into the big world)
03 Fruition (03:50)
The allusion, The sublimation, Tribulation, The reborn selbst, Quest for treasure, All the suffering, All the striving, Transmutation.
04 Wow and Flutter (03:07)
I didn't question I didn't know
As far as I'd seen life was endless
When I realised I had to let go
We are mere mortals
As to the rest
It's not eternal, imperishable
While on the move
It's not eternal, interminable
Progress is the clue
I though IBM was born with the world
The US flag would float forever
The cold opponent did pack away
The capital will have to follow
It's not eternal, imperishable
Oh yes it will go
It's not eternal, imperishable
The dinosaur law
Look at the symbols, they are alive
They move evolve and then they die
05 With Friends Like These (05:50)
L: All this violence is puzzling
Maybe the law should intervene.
M: All this violence is threatening
Hate is in need of censoring.
L+M: Ban hate and violence for our convenience (x2)
(Repeat once)
L: Don't we all know the dangers
Of two conflicting viewpoints?
M: An active troublemaker (?)
Banning the flame of dissent
L+M: So much aggravation!
L: To all haters: We'll create some laws to stop you.
M: You're the danger; you really shouldn't be allowed
to...
L: They piss on morality!
M: They detest humanity!
L: Those savages should be banned!
M: They're so deeply offensive!
L+M: Somebody shut them up!
[Throughout the following section Mary (I think) sings
something like: "once you catch them, kill them, kill
them"]
L: ?????????
They'll still be full of ??? shit (?)
M: But it's handy,
We'll blame it on human nature.
(Repeat from "They piss on... to "Somebody shut them
up!)
L: We'll censor the hell out of you...
M: We'll coerce evil out of you...
L: We'll cut you're tongue if we have to...
M: You're the baddies and we hate you...
(Repeat once)
06 Pinball (03:13)
C’est la réalité
On ne peut plus aller
Perdre la vérité
Tout au fond des bois
Devant la liberté
Pour la sensualité
On ne peut plus alle
Perdre n’importe quoi
J’étais tant prise par le désir
On me disait que c’était pire
Et maintenant que je suis morte
Il n’est plus question de pâlir
C’est la réalité
Tout au fond des palais
Chercher la vérité
Où s’est-elle donc nichée?
J’étais tant prise par le désir
On me disait que c’était pire
Et maintenant que je suis morte
Il n’est plus question de pâlir
C’est la réalité
On ne peut plus aller
Perdre la vérité
Tout au fond des bois
Naturally live it through desires
Colonize all moral empires
07 Spinal Column (02:53)
I've got a spine
So I can move around
It's so supple
It gets me really high
It all stretches
Keeping the man (?) alive
I've got a spine
So I can modulate
Also.....helps me to concentrate
A spinal column, a flexible tool
It is harmless but fairly powerful
I've got a spine
So I can move around
I've got a spine
Keeping me....
Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah
Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah
I've got a spine
So I can move around
It's so supple
It gets me really high
It all stretches
Keeping the man (?) alive
A spinal column, a flexible tool
It is harmless but fairly powerful
Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah
Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah
09 Golden Ball (06:26)
The only viable sun
What we have in common
We have nothing common
I live with its companions
I live with its companions
They can illuminate
Within its commandment
To illuminate
To attenuate
To illuminate
To accentuate
For we are old fellows
Illuminate
But we are...
Like falling two in half
From visible to invisible
Into the intercourse
That illuminates
Each fragment of the screen
Put into the ball of which it's part
Observe the failing of its tendencies
There's no above there's no below
Two months..
The only dynamic sun
10 Cybele's Reverie (02:55)
mati�res sensuelles et sans suites
mati�res sensuelles et sans suites
l'enfance est plus sympathique
l'enfance apporte le magique
que faire quand on a tout fait
tout lu, tout bu, tout mang�
tout donn� en vrac et en d�tail
quand on a cri� sur tous les to'ts
pleur� et ris dans les villes et en campagne
l'enfance est plus authentique
le jardin au haut portique
les pierres, lea arbres, les murs racontent
(la maison, la maison d'autrefois, la maison la maison d'avenir)
et le silence (-trera) me p'n'trera
Cybele's Reverie (translation)
sensuous and incoherent matters
sensuous and incoherent matters
childhood is much nicer
childhood brings the magical
what to do when we've done everything
read everything, drank everything, ate everything
given everything loose or retail
when we have screamed on all the rooftops
cried and laughed in the cities and the country
childhood is more authentic
the garden with the high porch
the rocks, the trees, the walls narrate
(the house, the house of old, the house, the house of the future)
and silence will penetrate me.
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