Pitchfork

[Posted Tuesday, September 30th, 2003 01:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Stereolab arguably created some the best albums of the 1990's: Dots and Loops, Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements, and my personal favorite, Emperor Tomato Ketchup. We all know their signature sound so well-- that slow, ambient drone dressed with beautiful melodies-- that it borders on cliche even for the band itself. Known equally for their prolific career, Stereolab have never left their fans short in terms of new material. But since the Stereolab world collapsed in December of last year, when a truck killed guitarist/singer Mary Hansen as she rode her bike through central London, life has obviously slowed down for the band.

With their last release (the well-reviewed 2002 ABC Music: The Radio 1 Sessions) sustaining fans through the turbulent times, it appeared to be the end of an era. Put those breakup rumors to rest... the drone goes on! On October 7th, Stereolab will drop Instant 0 in the Universe, a five-cut mini LP with four original songs. A week later, UK label Duophonic UHF Discs will release the UK edition both on CD and as a three-part seven-inch vinyl set. Tracklist:

01 Sudden Stars
02 Jaunty Money and the Bubbles Of Silence
03 Good Is Me
04 Microclimate
05 Mass Riff

And on the distant horizon, the Lab has commenced recording a new LP. This new effort, engineered by Fulton Dingley and mixed by himself and the band, will be Stereolab's first full-length release of new material since Hansen's sudden and untimely accident. I repeat: the drone goes on!