EXPLORING SOUND AND RHYTHM // Stereolab - Brakhage // Composer Reaction & Analysis

[@davidowle3772]

I'd argue that one can most appreciate this track in the context of the whole album. It's one of those gems one is meant to clear out a bit of time and absorb Dots and Loops as a whole and in order -- though I doubt it was crafted to be a "concept album" specifically. Brakhage is only the opener. As the album progresses the complexity builds, making more and more use of more intricate time signatures for example. And yet, it maintains approachability and the overall groove throughout. It's the best earliest example of DAW looping as a modern musical expression. It's a personal favourite for life. ❤

[@ianmcmillan2762]

Stereolab are one of my favourite bands from the British 90s indie scene. They mixed Krautrock, bossa nova/easy listening, drone music, electronica, French ye-ye, and mostly played it all on vintage instruments (Moogs and Farfisas were favourites). They also had a deep interest in the avant garde and experimental music scenes. They remained a cult band for their whole career but they were massively influential

[@liamshanley_21]

There is a lot of pitch shifted, manipulated samples on the rest of this album. I really love the jazzy, exotica-and-techno-influenced side of post-rock that bands like Stereolab and Tortoise make,

[@johnseward2934]

what a wonderfully comfortable vibe this song has. It sort of keeps you within one space but makes it so much fun, chill, and groove the whole time. Love the psychedelic intro and outro that pulls you into their energy then leaves you behind.

[@NicholasDellOrto]

Ahh I've been waiting forever for Stereolab to show up on the channel!

[@elfrsoul7490]

Brilliant band !

[@iggypopdrop3509]

Long time fan. Love the vocals too. Such a comforting sound layered in with the bleep bloops.

[@ganazby]

Wonderful band, with many great albums.

[@syater]

2nd post of yours I've watched. You're very good at picking up on what's actually going on in the music. Stan BRAKHAGE was an experimental film maker who used just about every technique imaginable to assemble images on film, they were strictly non-narrative. This I believe was Stereolab's reason for creating this track in the collaged way they did. Stereolab themselves often seemed like a collage of their many influences, which they refined over the course of their career. They were great live. Krautrock's driving rhythms, samba, Bossa Nova, sociological lyrics, sometimes influenced by Situationist literature, name-dropped many modernist artists, avant-garde composers, etc. because they wanted us to know the creative people they loved.

[@dalek604]

I would also suggest listening to Add N to (X) a similar band from the late 90's who also took the idea of playing electronic music live.

[@nubarros]

Masterpiece ❤

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

Stereolab is a name I've heard but never heard the music. This track sounded like a more indie pop Radiohead. Enjoyable, but probably the kind of music I'd have to sink into over the course of an album rather than a single track. Bonus points though for naming a song after the best experimental/avant-garde filmmaker ever, though!

[@progperljungman8218]

That was a very solid dance track! Would love to have it played when at the dance floor!

[@markaubuchon]

Transona Five from Mars Audiac Quintet is their Krautrock droning Motorik electronic masterpiece. Beauty in repitition, gorgeous backing vocals, so hypnotic. Definitely grows on you, absolute perfection

stan brakhage inspired

[@nunc-hic-stans4211]

Being a fan of Stereolab and Mouse on Mars this album was (and still is) a precious gift, you can easily point out the MoM hands here and there but with the Sterelab sound. Timeless album.

[@muskett00]

Love how you made the rhythm a swing rhythm :). You so found this to me similar to 'So What' by Miles Davis (Kind of Blue album) without realising it.

[@richardjones38]

It amazes me how 'metal' Brass Against make all their covers sound. Yes they still have one guitarist an a drummer, but if I hadn't heard them I'd never have imagined all the other instruments being brass could ever sound so heavy and work so well in songs I've known for so long.

[@dave808au]

Really enjoyed your analysis of this track! Stereolab are often strongly influenced by Krautrock music which interestingly is non electronic music that is loop/repetition based and was common in the 70s before electronic music was around. Kraftwerk were considered a krautrock band before they embraced electronic sounds actually. So you're really on point when you say this song sounds like electronica without electronic music. The album this song is from was their first album to properly embrace electronic sounds and was their first album on Warp Records, the label that releases IDM artists like Aphex Twin and Autechre. It's assumed that moving to that label inspired them to become a bit more electronic.

[@greggerypeccary]

@dave808au I never realized they went in an electronica direction... so strange, as they always had the retro-70s thing with the French and Kraut influences. I saw them play in '96 and it was all vintage instruments.

[@susifruit]

one of my fav videos on the internet, this song is top 10!

[@rudymeixell3426]

I think this is the first time I've listened to Stereolab with headphones on, and I found them more enjoyable that way, but still not something to get very excited about. This track reminds me a bit of Brazilian jazz pop electronic music (come on, you all know what I mean!), although I don't think any of the rhythms were Brazilian. I assume Brakhage is a reference to the experimental film-maker Stan Brakhage: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWazZqmhmsygrLc

[@blackmoofou6385]

One of my favourites, maybe an aquirred taste but Stereolab never fail to impress. No one like them at the time

[@tuizimtozzi]

The other songs by this album are less "stereolabesque" than this one, I think. I highly recommend you Kybernetická Babička from the album Fab Four Suture.

[@PhalseProfit13]

Yes..Stereolab yes yes

[@salpuma9145]

This song gave me a panic attack...still love it

[@musiclover01ization]

This was a nice video. The song was nice and catchy but a bit repetitive imo.