Margerine Eclipse
Margerine Eclipse is the eighth studio album by English-French rock band Stereolab. It was released on 27 January 2004 in the United States by Elektra Records and on 2 February 2004 in the United Kingdom by Duophonic Records.[3] The album is in large part a eulogy to former band member Mary Hansen, who died in 2002.
Margerine Eclipse | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 27 January 2004 | |||
Recorded | 2003 | |||
Studio | Instant Zero (France) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 53:41 | |||
Label | ||||
Stereolab chronology | ||||
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Stereolab studio album chronology | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 77/100[4] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
Alternative Press | 4/5[6] |
Drowned in Sound | 8/10[7] |
Entertainment Weekly | A−[8] |
Mojo | [9] |
The Observer | [1] |
Pitchfork | 7.6/10[10] |
Rolling Stone | [11] |
Spin | B−[12] |
Uncut | [13] |
By June 2004, Margerine Eclipse had sold over 40,000 copies in United States.[14] A remastered and expanded edition of the album was released by Duophonic and Warp on 29 November 2019.[15]
Background
In December 2002, Stereolab member Mary Hansen was killed in a cycling accident.[16] The band subsequently dedicated Margerine Eclipse to Hansen,[17] with the lyrics of the song "Feel and Triple" making specific reference to her.[5][18] Shortly before work commenced on the album, band members Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier ended their romantic relationship.[16][18] Their breakup is alluded to in Sadier's lyrics for the song "Hillbilly Motobike".[18]
Margerine Eclipse was mixed with full stereo separation – or as Stereolab termed it, in "dual mono".[18] For every song, the band made two recordings – each with a different arrangement – then created a final mix by synchronising both recordings together, with one on the left channel and the other on the right channel.[18] The technique was also used on the band's 2003 EP Instant 0 in the Universe.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Vonal Declosion" | 3:34 |
2. | "Need to Be" | 4:50 |
3. | "'...Sudden Stars'" | 4:41 |
4. | "Cosmic Country Noir" | 4:47 |
5. | "La Demeure" | 4:36 |
6. | "Margerine Rock" | 2:56 |
7. | "The Man with 100 Cells" | 3:47 |
8. | "Margerine Melodie" | 6:19 |
9. | "Hillbilly Motobike" | 2:23 |
10. | "Feel and Triple" | 4:53 |
11. | "Bop Scotch" | 3:59 |
12. | "Dear Marge" | 6:56 |
Total length: | 53:41 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Vonal Declosion" | 3:34 |
2. | "Need to Be" | 4:50 |
3. | "'...Sudden Stars'" | 4:41 |
4. | "Cosmic Country Noir" | 4:47 |
5. | "La Demeure" | 4:36 |
6. | "Margerine Rock" | 2:56 |
7. | "The Man with 100 Cells" | 3:47 |
8. | "Margerine Melodie" | 6:19 |
9. | "Hillbilly Motobike" | 2:23 |
10. | "La Spirale" | 2:24 |
11. | "Feel and Triple" | 4:53 |
12. | "Bop Scotch" | 3:59 |
13. | "Dear Marge" | 6:56 |
Total length: | 56:05 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Mass Riff" | 6:30 |
2. | "Good Is Me" | 5:27 |
3. | "Microclimate" | 4:39 |
4. | "Mass Riff" (instrumental intro) | 1:13 |
5. | "Jaunty Monty and the Bubbles of Silence" | 4:30 |
6. | "Banana Monster ne répond plus" | 4:28 |
7. | "University Microfilms International" | 4:01 |
8. | "Rose, My Rocket-Brain! (Rose, le cerveau electronique de ma fusée!)" | 5:26 |
Total length: | 36:14 |
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[20]
Stereolab
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Additional musicians
Production
Management
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Charts
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scottish Albums (OCC)[21] | 86 |
UK Albums (OCC)[22] | 108 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[23] | 11 |
US Billboard 200[24] | 174 |
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[25] | 6 |
References
- Woodcraft, Molloy (1 February 2004). "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". The Observer. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- Cairns, Dan (1 February 2004). "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- Korenkiewicz, Jason (10 February 2004). "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". PopMatters. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- "Reviews for Margerine Eclipse by Stereolab". Metacritic. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- Phares, Heather. "Margerine Eclipse – Stereolab". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". Alternative Press. No. 188. March 2004. p. 94.
- Robbins, Andy (22 January 2004). "Album Review: Stereolab – Margerine Eclipse". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- Vincentelli, Elisabeth (26 January 2004). "Margerine Eclipse". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". Mojo. No. 124. March 2004. p. 90.
- Leone, Dominique (15 January 2004). "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- Sanneh, Kelefa (5 February 2004). "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- Beaujon, Andrew; Brod, Doug; Chow, Alexander; Day, Adrienne; Greenwald, Andy; Gross, Joe; Hermes, Will; Matos, Michaelangelo (March 2004). "Breakdown". Spin. Vol. 20 no. 3. p. 96. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". Uncut. No. 82. March 2004. p. 90.
- Eliscu, Jenny (3 June 2004). "Warner to Ax Eighty Artists". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- Strauss, Matthew (8 October 2019). "Stereolab Announce Sound-Dust and Margerine Eclipse Reissues". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- Himes, Geoffrey (16 April 2004). "Stereolab 'Margerine Eclipse' Elektra". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- Brasor, Philip (11 April 2004). "Stereolab". The Japan Times. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- Wolk, Douglas (31 March 2004). "Living in Dual Mono". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on 22 June 2004. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Stereolab – Margerine Eclipse (Expanded Edition)". Duophonic Ultra High Frequency Disks. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- Margerine Eclipse (liner notes). Stereolab. Duophonic Records. 2004. D-UHF-CD29.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- "Chart Log UK: DJ S – The System Of Life". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- "Stereolab Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- "Stereolab Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
External links
- Margerine Eclipse at official Stereolab website
- Margerine Eclipse at Discogs (list of releases)
- Margerine Eclipse at MusicBrainz (list of releases)