Stereolab

Since their formation in 1991, out of the ashes of post-punk group McCarthy, by guitarist Tim Gane and vocalist Laetitia Sadier, Stereolab have consistently fulfilled and confounded the expectations of the populace. While the critics have mused and abused, the band has attracted one of the most loyal audiences around through an instant positive reaction to the mixture of glamorous and musical determination that is the group's chosen ground. The group has always pursued a ferocious touring pattern along side that dizzying series of releases.

They signed to Elektra in 1993 who released their 'primary' releases world-wide. In the UK, this led to the formation of Duophonic Ultra High Frequency Discs for release of those same main Stereolab records.

Stereolab's approach has paid off handsomely since the release of the debut 'Duephonic Super 45' single in May 1991. Initial critical acknowledgement combined with independent chart success has blossomed to a point where Stereolab can now compete on every level without ever having given into the normal dictates of the music business. 1995 saw them noticeably consolidating this position.
First of all there was a limited edition of 10,00 CD's of the music composed for the sculpture project 'Music From The Amorphous Body Centre', instigated by the celebrated artists Charles Long. It sold out in a day and featured in many critics end of year charts.
Then followed the release of 'Refried Ectoplasm', a round up of extremely rare singles and unreleased tracks. An instant Number One in the Indie Charts and Top 30 in the mainstream chart, it transformed the band's standing in the UK with reviews and features ranging from The Face to the Daily Telegraph. They saw the year out playing acclaimed sell-out shows supporting Pulp.

'Emperor Tomato Ketchup' saw the process of recognition and acceptance expanded even further. Their ensemble efforts on the LP were segmented with arrangements by High Lama Sean O'Hagan (once a full member of the group and a regular contributor since 1992). This time around Stereolab also re-allocated to Chicago to complete the LP under the auspices of Tortoise's John McEntire. This resulted in a record whose layered sounds and moods swung from string soaked arrangements to out and out funky grooves and futurist jazz.
'Dots And Loops' is the latest album from Stereolab and was also recorded in Chicago with John McEntire. This shows Steroeolab at their subtle genre-bending best, wonderfully seductive and a delightful haze of future past. 'Dots And Loops' also testifies, once again, to their empathy as musicians combined with Gane and Sadier's expertise at composition.
The following year the band released their last record on Duophonic entitled "Aluminum Tunes", before signing to WEA/Elektra. They have since released two full length albums "Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night" (1999) and Sound-Dust (2000). There was also the mini-album "The First of the Microbe Hunters" between them.
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