This immense autumn concert season continues at Théâtre Beanfield with the return of Anglo-French duo Stereolab, here in support of Instant Holograms on Metal Film, their splendid 11th full-length (and first in 15 years). Tonight’s show is long sold out, as would be expected given that their last packed-out show was at the much larger MTelus, and those lucky enough to score tickets are cheering loudly as the five-piece arrives to a recording of the space-age Mystical Plosives from their newest record. Briton Tim Gane and Parisienne Lætitia Sadier take their spots at the front of the stage and dive right into glorious new song Aerial Troubles, with its 60s Doors-esque keys setting the throwback tone for the rest of the 90-minute set.
Lætitia’s vocal is absolutely note-perfect compared to the records, and she also busts out a trombone with regularity on songs like Vermona F Transistor, show closer Immortal Hands, and the spectacularly extended Melodie Is a Wound, which throws in a thrashing distorted guitar riff from Tim and Andy Ramsay’s thunderous drums for a monstrous outro. The extended round of cheers and applause that greet the song’s conclusion show just how well that went down.
Special mention to bassist Xavier Muñoz Guimera too, who provides the harmonies to Lætitia’s lead vocals throughout. Crazy — I always thought it was Tim singing, but he doesn’t have a mic. The dual vocals on Motoroller Scalatron (seriously, how do they come up with these song titles?!) somehow sound both disjointed and coherent at the same time, while 1992’s Peng! 33 still sounds so fresh and punky. Xavier’s bass adds an unmistakable funk to the iconic Miss Modular, giving it a much more jazz vibe than you’re used to, but it still sounds great. The breezy sunshine indie pop of Cybele’s Reverie is a perfect soundtrack to this unusually hot October weekend too.
All in all, it’s a wonderful set, and proof that 35 years into their existence, Stereolab are still going from strength to strength.
Setlist
- Aerial Troubles
- Motoroller Scalatron
- Vermona F Transistor
- Peng! 33
- The Flower Called Nowhere
- Melodie Is a Wound
- If You Remember I Forgot How to Dream Pt. 1
- If You Remember I Forgot How to Dream Pt. 2
- Miss Modular
- Household Names
- Electrified Teenybop!
- Esemplastic Creeping Eruption
- Cybele’s Reverie
Encore
- The Way Will Be Opening
- Immortal Hands
Review – Simon Williams
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