Sterolab - Reading 2004
Was this the best live show I’ve ever witnessed? Yes! And yes I was there for Muse at Reading 2002 and yes, I’ve seen Blur and Sonic Youth, Green Day too, I’ve even seen Morrissey do 'How Soon Is Now', and they all come very close, but Stereolab wins it. (And yes, you’re quite right, I haven’t seen Radiohead, yet! Nor was I there for Nirvana, Reading ’92, or the Pistols on the boat etc., however…)
I was rather new to this band upon walking into the Radio One tent on that Saturday evening, nevertheless, inspired by what snippets of their music I knew, I muscled my way to the front of the (too) small crowd. I had heard 'Lo Boob Oscillator' before of course, (who hasn’t?) and I had downlo… I mean, I’ve heard other songs here and there, but nothing could prepare me for the spectacle that was Stereolab live.
There’s one word to describe their sound and performance, mesmerising. The combination of Sadier’s sensual vocal melodies and the beautiful dirge produced by the horns, synths and keys won over the hearts of the audience who stared in awe, with gaping jaws. The music, reminiscent very much so of The Velvets, created an atmosphere different to all other concerts. Very dreamy, it felt, for the brief forty minutes or so that they were on, that all the weights had been lifted. The lights and the loveliness of it all, all contributed to a definite feeling of euphoria, bliss, only interrupted once by a slight ring of feedback from the singer’s microphone, a fault that would usually go unnoticed anywhere else, but this was too perfect. Floating on such a high was this musical moment that that incident nearly brought the whole thing to it’s knees, but it was smoothly recovered by the sexy sexy sounds of Stereolab.
A display of very elegant dancing and stylish trombone skills from the front-lady went down a treat, adding to the mass of beauty and grace present on the stage. Each song gave its own individual impression, yet they all flowed together in one seamless euphony of sheer fantastical excellence. A magnitude equal in some ways to Pink Floyd, not in terms of sonic-scale or grandeur, but by being such a special spectacle, and for letting us be part of something magical and beautiful.
It was a shame it had to end, maybe heaven will be a Stereolab gig and not a halfpipe after all...