Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film

Stereolab in general, and specifically Instant Holograms On Metal Film is one of those bands and one of those albums where if one doesn’t like the outing, you’re looked down on, an outcast, shunned as some kind of alpha-hotel, unable to grasp the fine nuances, the subtle variations on a theme, lacking close attention to expressive detail and musical wordplay … but I don’t care, I’m not a hipster.

Yeah, I wrote a solid review for Peng once upon a time, and I ment that review once upon a time, though as of late, I’ve combed all of the Stereolab albums and kept only the songs that resonate with me, a mixed tape of sorts that doesn’t cause me to roll my eyes, or challenge me when all I wanna do is listen to some tunes that make me smile … after all, if I wanted to work I’d listen to machine-gun jazz, and I don’t do that either. So if you’re of a mind, and you enjoy this outing, I happy for you, yet you won’t find me making space during my busy day for this collection.

*** The Fun Facts: As to the album’s title, Instant Holograms generally refers to the advancements in holographic technology that enable faster and more accessible ways to create and view three-dimensional images. This can apply to both the generation and display of holograms, as well as simplified methods for creating them. Metalized or Metal Films: These are polymer films coated with a thin layer of metal, usually aluminum. This coating gives the film a glossy, metallic appearance and improves its barrier properties. Metal films also refers to thin layers of soft metals such as zinc, lead and copper that were traditionally used to cold form and warm form steel and stainless steel; these films were often combined with nonmetallic lubricants to act as carriers for lubrication, although they re no rarely utilized in industrial production.

Review by Jenell Kesler

Side C on my copy is notably off centre, with patches distortion/noise on the left channel in a couple of places (unless it's supposed to be like that, the word 'frequency' on Transmuted Matter for example... anyone with a CD copy care to confirm?) A few harsh sibilants dotted throughout. Noise floor level = normal for coloured vinyl.

Musically though, absolutely top notch stuff. Worth the wait? You betcha.

This album is a welcome return for Stereolab--they haven't missed a beat in 15 years. Excellent sounding press and killer embossed packaging, too! Zero complaints across the board.