The group Stereolab has been churning out great indie rock albums since the early ’90s. Its distinct sound, borrowed from a variety of genres, pushed the boundaries of “indie pop.” Laetitia Sadier, one of the group’s leaders, uses the basic Stereolab formula on her second solo release for Drag City.
Fortunately, this works to her advantage. Who knows what could happen if she strayed from this particular formula? Stereolab listeners, for the most part, would probably feel weird about breaking the mould. Some of the tracks, such as “Silent Spot,” slow it down a bit but maintain the vibe of a ’60s French sci-fi film soundtrack, with synthesizers cooing and beeping in the background. It’s a lush track, and Sadier’s vocals are delicate and mesmerizing.
“Next Time You See Me” is more stripped down, and falls flat. It feels more like a B-side than anything, but other than that, the listener gets the basic Sadier treatment. Beautiful vocals, poppy synths, slick, laid-back bass grooves and, for the most part, a pretty positive romp. Sometimes it pays to stay in your comfort zone.
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