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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stereolab's most straightforward release, February 11, 2004
I am one of those people that believes you can't really go wrong with Stereolab. They're one of those bands that you can play for anyone, and you'll always receive a compliment or an impressed query. For those who don't know them, their music is generally slightly upbeat, but spacy, with electronic-feeling drums, groovy bass lines, guitars that are funky without being obnoxious, swirling organs/keyboards, and generally disaffected but hypnotic vocals (often in French --oh-la-la). It is lush and mellow, but gripping.Margerine Eclipse is more song-oriented than any of their other offerings. As such, it is more accessible and user-friendly, but less trippy and ambient. At a little over six minutes, the dub-tinted Margerine Melodie is the longest song. Stereolab also continues the trend of writing more complex songs while tending to supress their droning kraut rock side. The result, surprisingly, is that Margerine Eclipse is actually less engaging than some of Stereolab's earlier works. Perhaps this change can be blamed on the death of vocalist/keyboardist Mary Hansen? Whatever the reason, this album seems a little more sparse than Stereolab's other offerings, despite the fact it offers more musical meat. Songs like "Cosmic Country Noir" are just a little less magnetic to me, but songs like "Vonal Declosion" show that they'll never leave their roots. Give 'em both a listen. In sum, if you are a Stereolab fan, you should go pick this up. You've probably done so already. If you're thinking about checking out Stereolab for the first time and you're the kind of person that needs lyrics with your music, this is the one to pick up. Otherwise, you might be better off checking out Emperor Tomato Ketchup, Switched On, or the BBC Sessions -- my personal faves.
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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kicking out the Jams, the lab regroop and redefine themselve, February 8, 2004
I'll first start this review by saying I love Stereolab, they were the band that got me musically through most of the 90's when crap boring grunge and self obsessed music ruled the day. You could always count on a new strong release from them which was familiar yet still pushed boundries. Thanks to the 'Lab for that! I waited with anticipation for my copy of M.E. mainly because this was the first full length record made since the regretful passing away of long time member Mary Hansen. Mary contributed a lot to the Stereolab sound and I thought it would be interesting to hear how well the groop adapted itself to making music without her. When I popped on this CD I wasn't sure, it seemed to lack something... but now after a week or so of listening to it I believe they have yet again delivered an amazing album! It slowly reveals itself to you, mainly because the songs are fairly complex in sound, structure and arangement. It makes for a hard first few listens, but after a while the songs reveal their beauty. Many of them refer to Mary, in fact I am of the belief that the use of the word Marge refers to Mary - maybe as a nick name or pet name? It makes a lot of sense. Listen to "Dear Marge" (when you get the CD)... what a lovely song. This album is an act of collective love and respect in honor of the memory of the great Mary Hansen, vocalist, keyboardist and guitarist and only Australian member of Stereolab. It is a very strong release - and upbeat. The songs are a lot shorter and the use of stereo is unique - instruments and vocals are all pretty much panned either hard left, hard right or dead center. What this means is you efffectively have TWO albums.. listen to it with the left channel down, then again with the right channel down... You get lots of lovely instrumental versions! I am not of the belief that everything Stereolab has done since Emperor Tomato Ketchup is crap (only heard about that one since this CD came out!). Do we expect them to play two chord songs for their whole careers? People used to complain they were too simplistic back then. Again Stereolab have refined, revised and reinvented their sound - still 100% Sterelab but with lots of twists and turns, and simply stunning and beautiful! Thank god they ontinue to make unique music. Listen to the song grabs here.. but better to buy it and tresure it! RIP Mary.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
absolutely gorgeous music, November 26, 2004
Margerine Eclipse (and Radiohead's Kid A) ought to be the direction that popular music is heading. The tracks are short and sweet, full of lush harmonies, electronica, ethereal singing, and amazing tempo and harmonic shifts. Track 10, Feel and Triple, is as beautiful as any popular music work I've ever heard.
The album is also incredibly uplifting. A Village Voice review described it as "luminous". I can't think of a more appropriate word.
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