Stereolab

Stereolab
Stereolab performing at the London Pitchfork Festival in 2021
Background information
Origin	London, England
Genres	Avant-pop post-rock indie electronic indie pop
Years active	1990–2009, 2019–present
Labels	Duophonic Elektra Too Pure American 4AD Slumberland Drag City Warp
Members	Tim Gane Lætitia Sadier Andy Ramsay Joseph Watson Xavier Muñoz Guimera[1]
Past members	Joe Dilworth Martin Kean Gina Morris Mary Hansen Sean O'Hagan Duncan Brown Katharine Gifford Richard Harrison Morgane Lhote Simon Johns Dominic Jeffery Joseph Walters Julien Gasc
Website	stereolab.co.uk

Stereolab are an Anglo-French avant-pop band formed in London in 1990. Led by the songwriting team of Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier, the group's sound features influences from krautrock and 1960s French pop music, often incorporating a repetitive motorik beat with the use of vintage electronic keyboards and female vocals sung in English and French. Their lyrics have political and philosophical themes influenced by the Surrealist and Situationist art movements. While performing, they play in a more feedback-driven and guitar-oriented style. From the mid-1990s, the band began to draw from funk, jazz and Brazilian music.

Stereolab were formed by Gane (guitar and keyboards) and Sadier (vocals, keyboards and guitar) after the break-up of McCarthy. The two were romantically involved for fourteen years and are the group's only consistent members. Other longtime members included 1992 addition Mary Hansen (backing vocals, keyboards and guitar), who died in 2002, and 1993 addition Andy Ramsay (drums). The High Llamas' leader Sean O'Hagan (guitar and keyboards) was a member from 1993 to 1994 and continued appearing on later records for occasional guest appearances.

Throughout their career, Stereolab has achieved moderate commercial success. The band were released from their recording contract with Elektra Records, and their self-owned label Duophonic signed a distribution deal with Too Pure and later Warp Records. After a ten-year hiatus, the band reunited for live performances in 2019.