The most amazing thing about Stereolab's Margerine Eclipse is how much of a surprise it is. It's not just that it's a fantastic record--Stereolab have made plenty of those. But since 1996's classic Emperor Tomato Ketchup, they've been deconstructing and breaking down their mix of exotic lounge pop and progressive Krautrock, throwing up cyclones of electronic mist. It's yielded some beautiful, but cold and distancing work. Eclipse shocks you with the contrast. Filled with the warmest possible intentions, it invites you to fall in love with its kind thumps and aural flotsam. Anchored by a test pattern baseline and a sly beat machine, the title track wanders around the edges, breaking into the main groove only to smoothly dissolve in a bittersweet end. Sounds like any other Stereolab song, right? But here - stripped down, dynamic, and alive - it's simply charming. - Matthew Cooke

Stereolab's first full-length recording without guitarist/vocalist Mary Hansen, who died in a tragic accident in December of 2002, MARGERINE ECLIPSE finds the band soldiering on in admirable fashion. Essentially picking up where they left off on 2001's SOUND-DUST, the group continues to employ their trademark blend of vintage keyboards, airy French/English vocals, and frothy lounge-meets-electronica pop sensibilities.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. VONAL DECLOSION
2. NEED TO BE
3. SUDDENLY STARS (EP VERSION)
4. COSMIC COUNTRY NOIR
5. LA DEMUERE
6. MARGERINE ROCK
7. THE MAN WITH 100 CELLS
8. MARGERINE MELODIE
9. HILLBILLY MOTOBIKE
10. FEEL AND TRIPLE
11. BOP SCOTCH
12. DEAR MARGE