Sunday, February 7, 2010

Stereolab - Switched On (1992)

There's a little record store around the corner from where I live that I'd been meanings to go check out for the longest time but haven't due to the fact that my turntable is currently broken. Just for kicks, my friend Alex and I finally went to browse the little shop earlier today and to my surprise they had a little section of relatively cheap CDs. This was the first one that really grabbed my attention. I was unfamiliar with anything that came out really early in Stereolabs career (my favourite album of theirs is probably Dots and Loops) this came a really pleasant and unfamiliar listen. Apparently this is a compilation album of their first releases. Lots of motoriks, amazing synthesizer tones and simple but attractive hooks, a real sonic treat.

"Switched On (also known as Switched On Stereolab or Switched On Volume 1) is a compilation of Stereolab's first three releases, and was originally released in 1992. The album's name is in tribute to Switched-On Bach and other similar titles from the late 1960s to 1970s that feature Moog synthesizers as the primary instrument.[1] Switched On was later licensed to Slumberland Records for a US release, and Rough Trade Germany, for that country, both in 1992."


DOWNLOAD: Stereolab - Switched On

7 comments:

  1. I love the early early Stereolab stuff so much - especially "Refried Ectoplasm" compilation. That's the one i heard first by a friend in the mid nineties and as a punk kid i was blown away. their massive organ drones and the repetetive drumming and spaced out positive stuff. it was awesome. I love how they develop their style to this easy listening, spaceage sound, but the early krauty and spacy stuff always rules.

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  2. just curious, record store name?

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  3. i'm not sure actually, it's just a tiny place right by Baldwin and McCaul.

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  4. hi, i'm planning to leave you guys some comments on the albums i really liked. (this in response to the plea for comments on the main page) i just think it has gotten so easy to access music that we (space pilgrims) are taking for granted that putting this together is work for someone. thanks. for starters, i have never listened to stereolab before, so this album was a real treat for me. i notice they have bunches of albums, so i wonder where to go next.

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  5. All Stereolab albums are worth buying. They grow on you.

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  6. Transient Random Noisebursts, With Announcements is a great record to follow this with.

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