Stereolab βRefractions in the Plastic Pulseβ Dots and Loops, 1997 Seventeen minutes and thirty-two seconds.Β Almost six times the length of the average song played by radio stations (I remember those!).Β That might seem excessively long, but in the hands of the Stereolab crew, it feels just right.Β Often βlongβ songs (anything over five minutes) feel even longer than they are, because of extreme repetition (see βFreebirdβ).Β βRefractionsβ¦β doesnβt feel so much like a song as it feels like a mini concept album:Β several different melodic and sonic themes expertly woven in a way that sounds like several different songs in one. And just what would this concept be?Β I have a hard enough time deciphering a songβs meaning when itβs in my native language, much less when itβs in French. The lyrics seem to playfully echo the songs loopy, meandering idea.Β (I believe that my translation is accurate.)
What is, isnβt closed In the most essential point of view, What is open, is to be In a non-ending action, Without trophy and without glory A creation without bottom, Without profit nor victory
After all of these years, Iβm still not sure that this isnβt just bad French poetry.Β But, it doesnβt matter.Β The way the voices of Laetitia Sadier and Mary Hansen blended was otherworldly.Β Their sense of harmony and vocal balance shines through on all of their recordings; this is just the longest. βEvan
