Stereolab Pulse of the Early Brain [Switched On Volume 5] 3LP

Tracking Angle Rated 9/11 Music, 9/11 Sonics!

TAS Rated 4.5/5 Music, 4.5/5 Sonics in the January 2023 Issue of The Absolute Sound!

The fifth and final volume in the classic Switched On series which compiles non-album tracks and sought-after deep cuts by the group Stereolab. This volume is unique in that it does not hone in on one particular period but gathers together unavailable tracks across the band's career, from early EP Low-Fi, to the brain-scrambling mid-'90s Nurse With Wound remixes, to unreleased installation tracks for sculptor Charles Long, culminating in a live version of fan favorite "Cybele's Reverie" captured at the Hollywood Bowl.

...Pulse of the Early Brain feels more necessary than some of the previous Switched On volumes. As it covers a wide swath of the band's career, it provides a few surprises for even the most avid fans - and whether listeners are hearing these songs for the first time or the first time in a long time, they sound equally great.

As their flexidiscs, split singles, and other rare pieces of their back catalog continue to go up in price, this particular collection does double duty as not only a vehicle for acquiring affordable, quality copies of these tracks, but also as a varied set of entry points into the band's long career.

All together, this album encapsulates the vastness of Stereolab's sylte, collaborations, and influence, bringing together genres and time periods in a way uniquely their own.