Stereolab - Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements (Expanded Edition)

Stereolab's 7 album reissue campaign begins with 1993's Transient Random Noise-Bursts With Announcements reissued, via Warp Records and Duophonic UHF Disks, as expanded and re-mastered editions. Each album has been re-mastered from the original 1/2" tapes by Bo Kondren at Calyx Mastering and overseen by Tim Gane. Bonus material includes alternate takes, 4 track demos and unreleased mixes.

The recording is among Stereolab's most groove-oriented efforts. There are experiments like the French-pop-flavoured Pack Yr Romantic Mind, but it's mostly a lovely, loud, decadent '90s rock record. The song titles reference obscure equipment, the sounds are made with arcane instruments, the repetitive guitar work is directly lifted from Michael Rother, and the cover image pledges devotion to vinyl (the musical obscurantist's medium of choice), but somehow the band never comes off as snobbish. Stereolab's music would not only spawn dozens of imitators, but the very stuff they drew inspiration from Esquivel and Os Mutantes was suddenly the starting point for any self-respecting hipster's record collection. More important, it totally rocks (Our Trinitone Blast) while beaming sunny vibes (Jenny Ondioline).