Refried Ectoplasm: Switched On, Vol. 2

Stereolab

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 1995)
• Original Release Date: October 23, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Drag City
• ASIN: B0000019QL
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,011 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
In proximity to all their gloriously conceptualized full-length albums, Refried Ectoplasm is surely an odd one, a motley collection of singles and rare tracks, each a miniature by a band whose career has been built on experiments that typically took a whole CD to flesh out. Refried, though, far exceeds the totality of its parts. The singles are distinct, and so not terribly obvious as cogs in a machine, but they're also almost flawless. Stereolab's keyboard colors are all over the place, lighting up "Lo Boob Oscillator," and Laetitia Sadier's droney, airy vocals seem ever in contrast to the music. A guitar-rich, even-rhythm universe prevails across these tracks, giving Refried a slow-burn fever that rings equally with grit and sonically playful quirks. It might be a collection of musical short stories in comparison to their sometimes weirdly epic novels, but it's in French and it's arty and squiggly. And by comparison, again, to their more keyboardy moments (of which there are many elsewhere in the band's catalog), this is a sonic tractor. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stereolab's best -- the utopian futurism of 1968!, September 5, 2004

By	R. Hutchinson "autonomeus" (a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

REFRIED ECTOPLASM is fantastic and propulsive, with the "motorik" Krautrock beat and French pop vocals that won't quit. This is high energy optimistic stuff -- simple Situationist garage-pop from 1968, perfect for dancing in that commune on the barricades. I think it's what Stereolab does best. Track 9, "Animal or Vegetable" is a long psychedelic jam that breaks up the flow in an interesting way, and "John Cage Bubblegum" is, indeed, a great pop song that in another dimension conquered the charts. Fascinating that a retro sound can sound more futuristic than the latest thing...

I don't like the turn Stereolab's music took after EMPEROR TOMATO KETCHUP ('96), starting with DOTS AND LOOPS ('97). My favorites are MARS AUDIAC QUINTET ('94) and this one, REFRIED ECTOPLASM ('95), with strong songs, beats and melodies. For more abstraction, I'll listen to avant jazz/improv or contemporary classical.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it for John Cage Bubblegum, July 26, 1999

By A Customer

This collection of earlier Stereolab recordings is well worth getting for any of its tracks. But most notably it includes the remarkable track John Cage Bubblegum (impossible to get from any other reasonable source) which is the best showcase for the poppier/noisier side of Stereolab, that the band ever recorded. Wonderful, invigorating listening.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great starter CD for Stereolab, September 1, 1998

By A Customer

A wonderful mix of Stereolab's most minimal and melodic stuff. More than any other older album, this collection of b-sides and rarities goes the furthest in anticipating what they have started to do with their last two albums. And let's not forget the Marxism! Really, I can't think of a better album of theirs that will let you in on all the various threads that run throughout their music. Some lengthy tracks, some short ones, instrumentals, some singing in French. Where is the lift, the hope and the struggle? Right here.