Stereolab live at the Gothic Theatre in Denver, CO [10.14.08]

After commenting on the vastness of the American Midwest and not realizing how faraway Denver is from anywhere, Stereolab was pleased to meet an almost sold out crowd; an oddball mix of mainly thirty to fifty year olds, with small pockets of high school kids. The night was distinctive not just because us middle-of-no-where Coloradan’s got to experience legendary French/British post-modern rockers, but also because Monade, led by Stereolab vocalist Laetitia Sadier, opened the night. Monade, the illusion before the main act, was similar to the more straightforward side of Stereolab, with a more stripped down sound. Instead of a stage overflowing with synthesizers, Monade only used one and rather than pump the theatre full of electro-pop madness, Sadier’s strumming of her left-handed Fender Mustang led the group. With poppy French harmonizing, I was surprised when Sadier announced, “this one is about things that are dark and luminous”. But Monade had such a similar feel to Stereolab that Sadier reminded the crowd to stick around for more music to come.

Steorolab transformed the stage from that of a basic combo, to a space station. Vintage synthesizers were placed ubiquitously for the sestet to churn out their perfect blend of bubblegum and moonbeams, with a greater emphasis on their more recent pop heavy material. Chemicals Chords (2008), their first release under the legendary underground label 4AD dominated the performance. However, the pinnacle of the event was Sean O’Hagan, a mad scientist equipped with mallets, hissing knobs and throbbing synths. He led a few spaced-out kraut freak-outs, which reminded the audience of Stereolab’s avant-electro mayhem from their earlier years. At times O’Hagan was transformed by under glows of green lighting and as he experimented into oblivion I thought Frankenstein would surly be resurrected. Like the best Steorolab records, the show spotlighted their immense range, from weirdo 50’s space-pop to Faust inspired celestial territory.

Bardos Freedoom