Stereolab
Stereolab is one of those bands that most people can’t understand and many people
have never heard of. It’s also one of those bands that rocks the indy scene inside
and out and has a devoted, if somewhat snobby, following. Don’t be surprised if the
guy at the music store shakes your hand when you buy a Stereolab CD or proposes to you if
you buy one on vinyl. Also, don't be surprised if you hear their music in the background
at one of those ultra hip, indy, coffee houses where everyone wears extra thick black
glasses and second hand sweaters. Like skateboarding or snowboarding, the indy music scene
is trendy in that anti-trendy way, and Stereolab is popular in small incestuous groups of
music fanatics.
Late last summer, just before the release of “Dots and Loops,” I had a
chance to speak with the lead singer of Stereolab, Laetitia Sadier. To get the full effect
of this interview you should dim the lighting, pop open a bottle of wine, and pretend you
are in a back street Parisian cafe. Pretend you are seated at a small corner table with a
sexy French women, and speak aloud to yourself in your best imitation of a French accent.
Kevin: So, where are you right now?
Laetitia: New York City
Kevin: How is it?
Laetitia: It’s O.K. we just can’t go out...
Kevin: You’re stuck on the phone with up and coming paparazzi like
me, shamelessly self promoting the greatness of Stereolab?
Laetitia: Something like that. How about you?
Kevin: I’m in Vermont, ever been?
Laetitia: No. I hear it’s really beautiful, the mountains... a lot
of snow in the winter.
Kevin: Well, sort of. Anyway, tell me about the band. How’d it all
start and where did the name come from?
Laetitia: It started about seven years ago when Tim [Tim Gane,
guitarist/songwriter] and I met; it started with a bunch of friends helping us out &
playing with us, on drums, on bass. Tim thought of the name- he saw it on a record.
Actually, we had it before we started the band.
Kevin: You’ve recorded 9 l.p.’s in six years?
Laetitia: Yeah, all in all.
Kevin: You’ve been busy.
Laetitia: Not really. We could have done more, it’s touring that
takes a lot of time. I think other bands just aren’t prolific at all.
Kevin: And you have your own label?
Laetitia: Yeah, “Duophonic Super 45.” That’s in England.
In the U.S. we are on Elektra. We’re people who put out a lot of stuff. We
didn’t want to be prevented from progressing. Elektra is good here. They’re
pretty open minded. In England, I can just hear them trying to control us: ”O.K.
kids, let’s hear some cocktail music.” We’re fortunate. Things are
going well.
Kevin: And what about the new album?
Laetitia: “Dots and Loops.” We want everyone to rush out and
buy it...[laugh] We’re actually really pleased with it. That’s big Stereolab
history to say we are all pleased with an album. I think
everything has really come to a focus. It was really rushed we didn't have much time, but
we didn’t cut any corners either, somehow we were all really relaxed. I think it
shows on the record. There’s a certain complexity running through the whole thing.
Kevin: A concept?
Laetitia: Yes.
Kevin: Can you tell me about it?
Laetitia: No.
~Kevin Peckham