[.ca] Sound-Dust

Chronique amazon.fr:
Si la formule n'a pas varié d'un iota en dix années d'une carrière dont l'intégrité force l'admiration, Sound-Dust s'avère être d'emblée un des sommets de l'oeuvre de Stereolab, aux côtés de l'inusable Tomato Ketchup réalisé en 1996. Pour ce joli coup de maître, le couple que forment Tim Gane (qui écrit l'ensemble de ces morceaux délicieusement futuristes) et Laetitia Sadier (chanteuse frenchie nourrie au biberon de Brigitte Fontaine et du kraut rock teuton) est allé chercher deux parrains aux oreilles averties : John McEntire, leader de Tortoise, et Jim O'Rourke, multi-instrumentiste et producteur, pilier de l'avant-garde internationale qui a déjà travaillé avec la formation britannique dans le cadre d'une série de maxis intitulée Reprovisers sortie par le label Thrill Jockey. Les influences sont les mêmes, qu'elles aillent puiser dans le terreau du jazz plus ou moins free (passion partagée avec Sonic Youth), des ritournelles répétitives, de la musique minimale, du nec plus ultra des musiques électroniques ou de la pop sophistiquée. Un peu Can, un peu Beach Boys, un peu Silver Apples, un peu Terry Riley... et beaucoup Stereolab ! Inimitable et indispensable. --Philippe Robert

From Amazon.com:
On their 12th release, art-pop act Stereolab float deeper into the post-rock atmosphere. They still draw from Ennio Morricone and Henry Mancini when creating their own fantasy soundtracks, but Sound-Dust lacks the dynamic interplay that invigorated Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night. The disc is all easy-listening lounge that's almost too gentle on the ears. There are no urgent sonic experiments, and only three tracks really spark to life: "Spacemoth," "Captain Easychord," and the Kubrick-inspired "Gus and the Mynah Bird." "Easychord" is the catchiest song on the album, containing the CD's most ebullient melody-emitting, warped, country-twanged notes. Beyond that, Stereolab fans should prepare for a very sedate, mature affair. --Jennifer Maerz

too much musicianship not enough elemental 'lab:
this is my fave band ever. I own a whole ton of their cd's and listen to them more than any other band. This band's strong points through the years (and in their earth shattering concerts) have included experimentation with so many different genres, and yet making these genres surprisingly their own--another strongpoint has been the elemental nature to their songs-an urgent simplicity--an overpowering sound burst of pure, raw, deep sentiment--this album--while very good in many ways, feels overproduced--it just lacks that raw power of feeling and conviction that all their other albums have...

This Is A Sonic Masterpiece.:
I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I first dropped Sound Dust into my CD player; the last album 'First of the Microbe Hunters' was a little disappointing from a progressive point of view (I thought it wasn't quite as well thought out as 'Cobra and Phases'). However, I was pleasantly surprised upon my first listening of the album. The first track comes on slow, but you get to hear a prevriew of some of the instrumentation that Stereolab is to employ for the rest of the album. The second song, 'Spacemoth', is by far the greatest song on the album, with layers upon layers of brass and wind instruments, along with Stereolab's usual melange of analog keyboards and synths. It really does signify a change in Stereolab's overall approach to compositions, arrangements, and producing techniques. Other songs like 'Captain Easy Chord', and 'Baby Lulu' will give the listener a general impression that their more sophistacated style of writing on this album can only progress to nothing less than a sonic masterpiece, like Brian Wilson's 'Pet Sounds', in the near future. 'Les Bon Bons Des Raisons' is a nice capper on the album, which also gives a little taste of what was to be expected of such future releases as 'Instant O In the Universe', and 'Magerine Eclipse'. Although Stereolab may not be a member of the contemporary "pop-music" spotlight, their music most certainly surpasses most of the drivel that the music industry releases as "music". I would most definitely recommend this album to anyone who can appreciate the progression of such a talented group of individuals.

Must...own.....essential...Stereolab...album:
One of the best, otherworldly bands EVER. Still hard for me to describe their sound to this day. I have been listening to the 'Lab for 8 years and they still impress me like no other. This does happen to be one of the more easygoing albums by this band, but they have matured in the way that I hoped they would. What's that, there are even some "normal" song lyrics on this album? "I need somebody/I feel so lonely/somebody to share/my scarcity?" Each track sounds so different from its predecessor. When 'Cobra and Phases' came out people didn't have much good to say about it (although I think its one of their best also), 'nothing I haven't already heard before.' But 'Sound-Dust' does cover a lot of new ground, even for a band that has been around for a long time. After the tragic death of Mary Hansen, it feels strange to hear 'Captain Easychord', which is a celebratory song, because you hear them sing, 'let live what must live/die what must die/birth comes with a death/comes with a rise.' I am lucky enough to have seen them twice, they are even better live. If you like them live too, you should check out the album 'Radio One: ABC Sessions'. This is the last studio album with the late Mary Hansen (2002), Rest In Peace.

Impressive Indeed!:
I was amazed when I listened to this album. Not only has this group advanced from the sometimes redundant experimentation that it had on "Noise Bursts", but it PROSPERED from the experience. This album COMPLETELY blew me away. It displays a shadow of what mid-70's alternative rock used to be - a culmination of a huge variety of instruments and sounds, all arranged to absolute perfection. It's relaxing, imaginative, and most of all, intelligent and creative. This is a must-have album for ANYONE who enjoys this rare breed of musical complexity.

Are you people listening to the same album?:
I want to preface this review by saying that I've been a Stereolab fan since Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements and I think Dots and Loops is one of the greatest CDs ever made. However, unlike the aforementioned albums, this is the sound of a band in stasis. They're not moving forward or seem to be trying very hard. Its as if they realized that they were obligated to put out an album but had very little good new material and went into the studio anyway. "We've got to release something, oh christ." The band sounds disinterested, perhaps they were just uninspired or bored. The songs sound like half-realized sketches. I think this is their worst album to date. I'll give it 3 stars because of past accomplishments, but I was very disappointed.

• Black Ants In Sound Dust
• Spacemoth
• Captain easychord
• Baby Lulu
• The Black Arts
• Hallucinex
• Double Rocker
• Gus The Mynah Bird
• Naught More Terrific Than Man
• Nothing To Do With Me
• Suggestion Diabolique
• Les Bons Bons Des Raisons