Stereolab: Aluminum Tunes – Switched On Vol.3 (Colored Vinyl) Vinyl 3LP Stereolab

The possibilities are open… Third and final compilation collecting Stereolab’s 7” and 10” output from the 90s. Originally released in 1998 on Warp, Aluminum Tunes (aka Switched On Vol. 3) is by far the most extensive of the series, containing a whopping 25 tracks spread across 6 sides of vinyl. Includes the full Music for the Amorphous Body Study Center EP, originally composed for New York sculptor Charles Long‘s Amorphous Body Study Centre art exhibition in 1995, as well as a collaboration with Herbie Mann (a cover of Jobim’s “One Note Samba”) and rare tracks from split releases with Tortoise (“Speedy Car”), Yo La Tengo (“The Long Hair Of Death”), krautrock heroes Faust (“Percolations”) & more. Unlike volumes 1 and 2, Aluminum Tunes included a handful of brand new exclusive tracks that don’t appear anywhere else, and they’re some of the band’s finest work: “Munich Madness,” “Get Carter,” “1000 Miles and Hour” and “Seeperbold.” Also be sure to check out “Melochord Seventy-Five,” “Iron Man” and the Wagon Christ mix of “Metronomic Underground.” The Switched On series is a great point of entry for anyone looking to explore beyond Laetitia Sadler & co’s studio albums; we suggest all three, but check out Switched On Vol. 3 if you’re partial to the sound of Dots And Loops. Official reissue on limited edition clear triple vinyl, housed in screen printed double gatefold sleeve, available for the first time in 20 years. Remastered at Calyx in Berlin and released on the band’s own Duophonic imprint, recommended.

• triple clear vinyl pressing
• screen printed double gatefold jacket in plastic sleeve
• remastered audio
• digital download included
• music label: Duophonic 2018

reviewed by sakura incident 05/2018