Terrified of flying, I resorted to my iPod this past week to keep me calm during my travels. Luckily for me, I had some Stereolab on tap. Hypnotic harmonies from Fab Four Suture, their most recent release, were enough to send me into a near state of nirvana.
Classically European in their electronic style, Stereolab is a band with a unique sound: very chic, very foreign and very repetitive. Created in the '90s by two '60s-era Europeans, Stereolab has been hailed by Spin Magazine "as one of pop's 50 most influential ensembles." Their surreal melodies have become the band's trademark, leading to their classification as lounge-pop.
Fab Four stays within that mold, adding a futuristic twist heard on previous albums. This futuristic sound comes from the consistent use of electronic instruments, synthesizers and well-placed brass. Although the über-modern quality of Fab Four is interesting, the music doesn't command your undivided attention. Its weight is elusive, too relaxing to be fully appreciated unless you're actively listening.
Comprised from previous limited edition EP releases, the music on Fab Four either submerges into the background or floats just above your consciousness. This hypnotic effect stems from the highly cohesive musical roots within the album. The first several tracks have the same musical foundation: a 4/4 synthetic xylophone-like rhythm that is the arpeggio of the song's scale. Stereolab's sound then skillfully progresses along a more melodic route -- the electronic rhythms and sounds are still there, but lyrical melodies are intricately woven throughout.
Laetitia Sadier, Stereolab's lead singer and one of its creators, lends her rich timbre to lyrics that cannot be fully understood on many of the tracks. This indecipherable characteristic is due in part to a conscious production technique to reinforce the lounge-like quality of the music and because some of the vocals are in French.
Clinging to tradition, Stereolab continues to create lyrics that speak of large-scale (mostly political) movements as opposed to individual dilemmas. As a result, both the English and French have Marxist leanings, a topic not uncommon to the group. Fab Four's greatest example of this is the track "Whisper Pitch." Sadier intones a message about the connection between individuals and the world and our responsibilities henceforth.
"It is always our decision / it's the feeling of connection / depends on our actions / can't see ourselves as the victims."
The idea of connectivity on "Whisper Pitch" is mirrored in the style of the album. Each track leads into the next. Fab Four's musical journey is a winding path of connected psychedelic tunes, each more mellow than the last.
Within this interconnected work there is only one example of disjunction. The last track, "Kyberneticka Babicka Pt. 2," rises from ground zero without any connections to the previous song. Its main purpose is to frame the album, acting as an ad hoc epilogue to reinstate the unity of the earlier tracks.
Despite this minor flaw, Fab Four Suture is sure to be a major hit among fans and those looking for skillfully crafted electronica. And if you're ever traveling and terrified of flying, then it's just what the doctor ordered.
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