They were founded in 1990 by songwriters Tim Gane (guitar, keyboards), formerly of the band McCarthy, and Laetitia Sadier (sometimes credited as Seaya Sadier; vocals, keyboards, trombone, guitar), who is from France and sings in both English and French.
Over the years, Gane and Sadier have enlisted a large number of other musicians to accompany them on stage and on record. The initial line-up featured Martin Kean, formerly of The Chills, on bass, and Joe Dilworth (from their Too Pure label-mates Th’ Faith Healers) on drums, with Russell Yates (of Moose) and Mick Conroy (ex-Modern English) also appearing at early live shows. In 1993 they recruited Andy Ramsay (drums), who has remained in the group line-up ever since, and Mary Hansen (vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion). Hansen’s distinctive backing vocals became an important aspect of the Stereolab sound, and she remained a regular feature of the line-up until her death in a cycling accident on December 9, 2002. Multi-instrumentalist Sean O’Hagan of The High Llamas has also been a frequent contributor, particularly with string, brass and keyboard arrangements to the band’s studio albums. John McEntire (Tortoise) has also contributed keyboard, electronic effects and studio help over the years. Other members have come and (in some cases) gone over the years, including Duncan Brown, Dave Pajo (from Tortoise), Richard Harrison and Simon Johns (all bass); Gina Morris (vocals); and Katharine Gifford and Morgane Lhote (both on keyboards).
Early Stereolab material displayed a heavy influence of krautrock sounds, particularly Neu! and Faust, characteristically relying on droning, repetitive guitar or keyboard riffs, with or without vocals. Early heavy use of distorted Farfisa combo-organ sounds were also reminiscent of early recordings by The Modern Lovers. As the band developed, they incorporated new instrumentation, and an increasingly complex sense of rhythm and structure, frequently making use of irregular time signatures as well as unorthodox chord progressions and melodic intervals. The band has often made copious use of female backing vocal lines.
Lyrically, Stereolab’s music is quirky (song titles evoke memories of 1950s science fiction stories, and are often borrowed directly from old films and records of the period, but have nothing to do with the song’s content), but highly politically and philosophically charged, sometimes with a decidedly Surrealist or Situationist bent. (Sadier notes the libertarian Marxist theoretician Cornelius Castoriadis as a particular inspiration.) Sadier’s lyrics, in both French and English, often read like highly condensed sociological texts, standing in deliberate and distinct counterpoint to the lush hedonic pop sound of the band. A prime example would be “Ping Pong” from Mars Audiac Quintet, which is an explicit restating of Marxist theory concerning the relationship between economic cycles and war cycles.
Stereolab earned a minor place in the Britpop movement, with their sound proving influential to bands like Blur: occasional keyboard-driven b-sides and singer Damon Albarn’s love of retro keyboards showed the influence, and in recognition Laetitia Sadier was invited to provide vocals on “To The End” from Parklife.
Despite the band’s fan base and critical acclaim, Stereolab has not achieved high levels of financial or popular success. On June 7, 2004, suits at the Warner Music label (to whom the band was signed in the U.S.) announced they were dropping Stereolab in response to the poor sales (40,000 to that date) of Margerine Eclipse. This was part of an ongoing effort by Warner to cut costs; The Breeders and Third Eye Blind were also dropped from the label for this reason. Laetitia Sadier is now also a member of Monade, which is essentially expressive of her own singular musical goals.
Margerine Melodie
Stereolab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They begin a competition
In which there will be a winner and a loser
State of dominance over one or the other
This dominance is integral to
All human's ways and actions
The necessity to keep at disposition
Knowing through training that he wants to keep it
Learning everyday, he will have to dominate
Our brain makes us act
Behave and react
A pulsion that drives us to stay alive
Need to satisfy our fundamental needs
The nervous system enables that drive
Through consumerism, escape and struggle
As well as inhibition
All these mechanisms that preserve balance
Biological well being
Seems that until now we have used our brain
Just to dominate, just to dominate
Knowing through training that he wants to keep it
Learning everyday, he will have to dominate
When two people have a project
They begin a competition
We've to widen the knowledge of
How our brain works to understand
Or nothing will, will ever change
Will to an end
Give birth without seizing
Act and except nothing
They flower let them free
Unite with the dust and be
Give birth without seizing
Act and except nothing
They flower let them free
Unite with the dust and be.
The lyrics of Stereolab's "Margerine Melodie" suggest that competition and dominance are integral to all human actions and ways. The song starts by stating that when two people have a project, they begin a competition in which there will be a winner and a loser. The need for dominance is essential, and we are constantly in a struggle to maintain the state of dominance over an object or being that is desired by someone else.
The song explains that our brain makes us act, react, and behave in a way that preserves our biological well-being. The nervous system enables the drive to satisfy our fundamental needs. However, we have been using our brain solely for the purpose of dominating something or someone. It suggests that we need to widen our knowledge about how our brain works to effect change and that if we don't, nothing will ever change.
The last verse of the song though introduces an alternative: giving birth without seizing, acting and accepting nothing, letting them flower and unite with the dust. This suggests a form of non-competition and non-dominance instead situating actions in growth and mutual flourishing.
Line by Line Meaning
When two people have a project
Collaborating individuals start a contest to determine a winner and a loser and establish dominance over each other.
In which there will be a winner and a loser
The competition will inevitably result in one participant prevailing over the other.
State of dominance over one or the other
Gaining control over the other person is a crucial aspect of human behavior and actions.
This dominance is integral to
The act of dominating another person is fundamental to human nature.
All human's ways and actions
Dominance permeates all human behavior and decision-making.
The necessity to keep at disposition
Having access to desirable objects or beings is a vital requirement for dominating others.
An object or being desired by another
The presence of something that another person wants can be used to establish dominance over that person.
Knowing through training that he wants to keep it
Understanding the value of the desired object and learning to hold onto it is a key aspect of dominance and control.
Learning everyday, he will have to dominate
Continually improving the ability to dominate others is essential to maintaining control over desirable objects or beings.
Our brain makes us act
Our actions are determined by the impulses of our brain.
Behave and react
Every aspect of our behavior and reactions are influenced by our brain.
A pulsion that drives us to stay alive
The basic drive to survive is what motivates our behavior and impulses.
Need to satisfy our fundamental needs
The drive to satisfy basic physical and psychological requirements controls much of our behavior.
The nervous system enables that drive
Our nervous system plays a crucial role in driving and fulfilling our fundamental needs.
Through consumerism, escape and struggle
Modern society uses various mechanisms such as consumption, escapism, and conflict to maintain a degree of balance and well-being.
As well as inhibition
The act of limiting or suppressing certain impulses is another mechanism employed to maintain balance and well-being.
All these mechanisms that preserve balance
Various strategies are used to achieve a state of balance and well-being.
Biological well being
The achievement of a state of physical and mental health is a primary objective of these mechanisms.
Seems that until now we have used our brain
Thus far, the primary use of our brain has been to establish dominance over others.
Just to dominate, just to dominate
The impulse to dominate others has been a significant driving force behind much of human behavior.
We've to widen the knowledge of
To change this behavior pattern, we must expand our understanding of how the brain functions.
How our brain works to understand
Only by comprehending the workings of our brain can we hope to effect lasting change in our behavior.
Or nothing will, will ever change
Without understanding the workings of our brain, our behavior will remain unchanged.
Will to an end
Our ultimate goal should be to use our willpower to bring about the desired changes.
Give birth without seizing
Create without attempting to control or possess.
Act and except nothing
Take action without expecting anything in return.
They flower let them free
Allow things to develop and grow without interference or control.
Unite with the dust and be
Inevitably, everything returns to dust and becomes one with the universe.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
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