Chemical Chords - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Album Description
Being released by the iconic legendary label 4AD, Chemical Chords is a collection of purposefully short, dense, fast pop songs, according to Gane, brimming with Motown-like drums, O'Hagan's finest baroque-pop brass and string arrangements and etched with some of Sadier's most eloquent, mellifluous vocal performances to date, it is, nonetheless, classic Stereolab; like all their best work, a perfect equipoise between an implausibly cool past and a shamelessly exotic future. The eleventh album in an illustrious career, Chemical Chords began life in early-2007 when Tim Gane started messing with a series of about seventy tiny drum loops on top of improvised chord sequences using piano and vibraphone. Building them up from there later slowing the tracks down or speeding them up a totally new way of doing songs for us With typical prolificacy, the band laboured over the summer at their studio, Instant Zero (in Bordeaux, France), helping transform these blueprints into 32 luminous new songs, with keyboardist/technician Joe Watson manning the mixing desk. Half the new repertoire was selected for this album, which, for all the breathless spontaneity of its invention, is arguably the band's tautest, most highly focused work this century.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars

Deliciously charming. August 20, 2008
10 out of 13 found this review helpful

"Chemical Chords" is not too far removed from the Stereolab we all fell for oh so many a year ago and what's really highlighted by this offering is the reassuring fact that their focus and somewhat obsessive work ethic is as true and alive today as it ever was.
They have plowed their particular furrow for many years, constantly tweaking their particular mixture of dreamy french pop, soaring vocal lines, squelching moog synths and xylophone.
The trademark 'Stereolab sound' is predictably and thankfully present.
The London-based band have delved back into their Gallic pop roots for their most recent album 2004's acclaimed Margerine Eclipse.
Augmented by former guitarist Sean O'Hagan, they provide more of the tried and tested formula that has seen them not quite crossover to the bigger audience that perhaps, at one time, they deserved.
Aided by O'Hagan's soaring brass and swooning strings, the simple melodic themes build into pleasant enough meanderings, taking in various instruments along the way: a harpsichord arpeggio here, a flute part there, a squelchy and insistent beat and melancholic guitars and vocal musings very much in evidence on the beautiful opener "Neon beanbag".
O'Hagan's work is very much in evidence again on the title track, which is full of melancholy cinematic sweeps and the occasional Curtis Mayfield-esque string runs.
Kicking off with "Neon Beanbag", the ninth album from London-based post-rock pioneers Stereolab, gets off to a flying start.
Chic and quirky in equal measure, and much more pop-oriented than recent EPs, the delicate vocal and jaunty trumpet gel to create a whimsical four-or-so minutes indicative of the rest of the album.
Laetitia Sadier's Gallic are typically splendid, and, aside from the delicious opener, other standouts include the harpsichord-heavy "Cellulose Sunshine" and "Three Women".
"Chemical Chords" is subtle and contains an easy charm throughout that, like a lot of previous Stereolab material, can lead one to miss things the first time through.
Importantly, they haven't lost any ability in nailing the toe-tappers, the ones that light up their now incredibly impressive live sets.
It's not the easiest album to get to grips with, but as autumn approaches and the nights draw in, it's well worth persevering with.
"Neon Beanbag", "Cellulose Sunshine", "Daisy Click Clack" and "Vortical Phonotheque'"are just a few from the many quirky song names presented in order to intrigue and attract.
Have a pleasant listening experience.

3 out of 5 stars

Same Old, Same Old August 22, 2008
10 out of 15 found this review helpful

As a fan of "the Groop" for, oh, eleven years now, I firmly believe now, after listening to "Chemical Chords" multiple times, that it's time for the gang to hang it up. ..or at least do SOMETHING different.

Those like myself who have been growing increasingly tired of the formula that used to be interesting may have been having trouble completely accepting "Margarine Eclipse" and "Fab Four Suture" as true Stereolab albums. Yes, they're just like anything else they've done, but at one time, this was a band of seemingly endless possibilities. "Emperor..." was considered a modern classic and "Dots..." improved on the sound. They took chances, they wanted us to be impressed. I don't feel that anymore.

Popping "...Chords" into the CD player initially, it took exactly seven seconds for me to yawn and think maybe it's "Margarine Eclipse" all over again. ..and really, I wasn't far off. It took four tracks for me to really become interested, as the title track is gorgeous.

"Chemical Chords," the song, is gentle, free of any discerning beat, yet is a glimmer of hope that was desperately needed. The strings are simply beautiful and flashes of old-time sophistication return, but only temporarily. Immediately afterwards comes "The Ecstatic Static," apparently the prior track's little sister.

The rest of the tracks have very small factors that make them unique, but any long-time fan of the group should be able to tell that they're neither improving their sound nor being adventurous with it. In fact, even Amazon's description mentions thirty-some-odd tracks being made with half of them or so being placed on this album. If it had read that these were leftovers from the "Margarine Eclipse" sessions, it would have made more sense. At least "Fab Four Suture" was downright weird in places, though still typical Mary-less Stereolab.

The album is a solid three, though maybe a half star should be granted further because it's hard not to like this group, even when they're being lazy.

Oh, 4AD is involved with Stereolab now. Just mentioning because it's true, though it probably would mean more if the album were released fifteen years ago.

5 out of 5 stars

Let the chemical chords penetrate your electric brain August 22, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I have been eagerly anticipating the new Stereolab album for some time, intrigued by Tim Gane's tantalising account of the creative process that led to 'Chemical Chords'- of a batch of his own musical doodles from which the groop developed the final, fleshed out tracks in the studio. So yes, as one would expect from Stereolab, 'Chemical Chords' is a lushly orchestrated album (Sean O'Hagan's arrangements add wonderful texture, especially the strings on 'Cellulose Sinshine' and 'Self Portrait With Electric Brain'), but each track bears the succinct imprint of a singular idea perfectly realised, unlike previous albums where some tracks feel like two or three condensed into one. The synergy between the musical elements makes this another Stereolab album that will continue to reward repeated listens. It's really only just beginning to sink in for me, and so far 'Daisy Click Clack','Self Portrait With Electric Brain' and 'Cellulose Sunshine' have particularly infected my musical consciousness.

The Stereolab formula is evident, but sufficiently tweaked to engage the fans- I can't imagine they will be disappointed. This is a great album, and it's certainly not bereft of candidates to add to your selection of favourite Stereolab songs. It also has an infectiously cheerful quality that might just dispel some mental rainclouds- even those with that mood of restless yearning don't stray too far towards melancholy.

N.B I highly recommend getting the version with extra tracks- 'The Nth Degree' and 'Magne-Music' are both awesome, the former with its insistent bass and crackling electronic inflections, the latter with its rhythmic electronic bubble sounds. The US version provides 17 tracks with 'Spool of Confusion' whereas the UK extended version only has 16 (but isn't much more expensive)

4 out of 5 stars

much much better August 31, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

something has been off for me with stereolab since marys death. i dont know why. i didnt know her, so it wasnt anything on a personal level. it was a certain charm, maybe?
after listening to this album multiple times, i do believe that the charm is back, there are still cerebral, challenging songs here, yes, but they are crisp, tight, short and amazing. yes, amazing. this is by FAR the most enjoyable stereolab release in years.
the strings, the hooks (all songs have at least one), the amazing sound, its all here. its all sterolab. this is a great album. i have been a fan for over a decade, and i do believe that this is the cd that i would recommend to beginners, and in time, might fall into my top choice myself. thanks, guys. love the cd.

5 out of 5 stars

Kaleidoscope Sound, Fresh & Delicious! November 30, 2008
Another great Stereolab album.
Chemical Chords reminds of an old movie soundtrack. Practically each track on "Chemical Chords" sounds like a soundtrack to an old romantic comedy with the elements of a spy movie and the only thing that reminds of this being a XXI century album are the electronic noises and contemporary beats on some of the songs. The record opens with a funny song "Neon Beanbag" with no words that prepares us at once for something joyful, exciting and optimistic. A rhythmic composition "Three Women" pleases with wind instruments in the accompaniment and the vocal part sounding like a greeting from the 70's and "One Finger Symphony" is remarkable for an interesting electronic beat, stylish keyboards and a tune just perfect for a spy movie. The title composition is the longest on the album lasting over 5 minutes but it is far from a limit for "Stereolab" for one can find songs that are 7 or even 15 minutes long among the band's creations. A great orchestra composition "Ecstatic Static" pleases with a complicated tune and a beautiful "Valley Hi!" is refined with lyrics in French. A tangible mood change appears on "Pop Molecule (Molecular Pop 1)" this heavy composition is obviously placed here so that the listeners do not relax too much and remember that they are dealing with a rock band here but this is the only tough moment on "Chemical Chords", and as strange as it may seem it sounds quite appropriate here. All the rest of the tracks please again with merry melodies, colorful instrumental background and unobtrusive vocal parts.
Stereolab is an amazing and unique band.

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