“Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage In the Milky Night”: Stereolab’s Sonic Revelation of 1999
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In the last year of the millennium, Stereolab, a renowned Anglo-French band, released an impressive long-player titled “Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage In the Milky Night”. This recording, enriched with the talents of renowned musicians from across the globe, heralded a new sonic frontier for Stereolab, employing a diverse range of instruments not frequently seen in the contemporary scene of the time.
This collection of songs, marked by the collaborations of prominent artists such as Jim O’Rourke and Rob Mazurek of Chicago Underground, harmonizes a plethora of instruments into an orchestrally lavish sound, reminiscent of the eclectic vibes of the 70s. Among the ever-present and characteristic vocals of Lætitia Sadier, you can hear the distinct layers of electric harpsichord and clavinet intermingling with the musical expertise of not only Jim O’Rourke but also Sean O’Hagan of The High Llamas and John McEntire, who masters the drums like few others.
The underlying influences drawn from 60s French pop music and krautrock can be felt in full force in this innovative production. The genius behind this complex musical blend can be primarily attributed to two captivating entities: the musicianship of Tim Gane and the vocal depth of Lætitia Sadier. Together, their creative forces led Stereolab to incorporate a motorik beat and vintage synthesizers, overlaying this with a mix of English and French poetic verses.
“Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage In the Milky Night” takes a brave step forward by introducing sophisticated and densely layered segments of jazz. Some listeners may find these leaps into the fusionist lounge-jazz realm challenging, but the allure cannot be denied. An example of such striking avant-gardism can be seen in “The Emergency Kisses”, where novel string compositions reminiscent of David Axelrod orchestration marry with the energy of baroque keys.
The unique journey of Stereolab stretches from their inception in London in 1990 to their recent reimmergence in 2019. Despite experiencing the loss of skilled members, such as Mary Hansen, and seeing the departure and partial return of Sean O’Hagan, leader of The High Llamas, as a guest musician, the band’s resilience and commitment to their innovative sound have never wavered. Even as they evolved to incorporate elements of funk, jazz, and Brazilian music, Stereolab kept to their roots in surrealism and situationist artistic inspirations, continuing to challenge the status quo of the music world.
Aptly released under the labels of Duophonic Records and Elektra Records, Stereolab’s “Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage In the Milky Night” continues to be a testament to the ever-evolving nature of music. From its 1999 release to the present day, the album remains an essential pillar in the musical journey of this pioneering band, and a fundamental conduit for blending eclectic music styles and pushing the boundaries of conventional songwriting.
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