Name: Chemical Chords
Brand: Stereolab

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

cad2815cd

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2013-10-26

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

PIAS

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

652637281521

Total Cap

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Stereolab

Genre GB

Indie Pop / Shoegaze

Label GB

The influential 4AD label was started in 1980 by music enthusiasts Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent with financial help from Beggars Banquet, whose record store chain the pair worked for. Originally called Axis, they released an initial series of four 7" singles before finding out that the name Axis was already being used by another label. They quickly came up with a new name, 4AD, inspired by typography on a flyer announcing their releases. Under Ivo Watts-Russell's guidance, drawing influence from other UK indie labels such as Beggars Banquet, Postcard Records and Factory, 4AD quickly established a unique identity thanks to both the cover designs of Vaughan Oliver/v23 and the label's unique numbering system.

In 1992, 4AD entered a highly publicized Stateside distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records, opening offices in New York headed up by Robin Hurley. The label was largely run from California for most of the decade after Ivo Watts-Russell moved to Los Angeles in the mid-90s. In November 1999 it was announced that Martin Mills had taken over as chairman and relocated its HQ to London.

Decoding their unique numbering system reveals various formats like mail-order only releases (4AD), LPs (CAD), MP3 downloads (EAD), posters (FAD), videos (VAD) and more. The numeric portion of their catalog numbers

Stereolab formed in London in 1990 by record collector Tim Gane and French chanteuse Laetitia Sadier. They were active between 1990 and 2009, when the band took a 10-year hiatus. In 2019 they reunited for live performances to promote a year-long seven album reissue campaign. Sean O'Hagan was a member from 1993 to 1994 and he continued appearing on later records for occasional guest appearances.

The band consists of Tim Gane on guitar, Laetitia Sadier on vocals, Gina Morris (1991) on vocals, Mary Hansen (1992-2002) (died 2002) on vocals, Martin Kean (1990-1993) on bass, Duncan Brown (1993-1996) on bass, Richard Harrison (1996-1998) on bass, Simon Johns (1998-2009) on bass, Joe Dilworth (1990-1992) on drums, Andy Ramsay (1992-2009, 2019-) on drums, Sean O'Hagan (1993-94), Katharine Gifford(1934–1945), Morgane Lhote(1967–1971), Dominic Jeffery(1957–1967), Joe Watson(1965–1981), Joe Walters(1926–1935).

Throughout their career Stereolab has

Being released by the iconic legendary label 4AD, Chemical Chords is a collection of purposefully short, dense, fast pop songs, according to Gane, brimming with Motown-like drums, O'Hagan's finest baroque-pop brass and string arrangements and etched with some of Sadier's most eloquent, mellifluous vocal performances to date, it is, nonetheless, classic Stereolab; like all their best work, a perfect equipoise between an implausibly cool past and a shamelessly exotic future. 

Chemical Chords

Music GB