Aluminum Tunes [Switched On Volume 3] cover

Aluminum Tunes [Switched On Volume 3]

Released

The third entry in Stereolab’s Switched On compilation series, the double-disc Aluminum Tunes compiles material recorded between 1995 and 1997, during which time they also released two full-lengths, Dots & Loops and Emperor Tomato Ketchup, and three EPs. It’s wild to think just how much music they produced over those three years; Stereolab were so profligately creative they could throw away miniature masterpieces, like “Seeperbold” or “The Incredible He Woman,” on compilations and split singles. Aluminum Tunes might be the best way to get a sense of the sheer breadth of what Stereolab were doing in the mid-nineties, where tropicalia, jazz, electronica, library music, Krautrock, Kosmische, sixties pop, and more were all getting jumbled up in the mix. It’s frequently surprising just how much ground they covered.

Jon Dale

Recommended by

Suggestions
Barbarians cover

Barbarians

Richard Davies
Kelly Lee Owens cover

Kelly Lee Owens

Kelly Lee Owens
Still Smiling cover

Still Smiling

Blixa Bargeld, Teho Teardo
High Llamas cover

High Llamas

Sean O'Hagan
Una linterna cover

Una linterna

Candelaria Zamar
Ft. Lake cover

Ft. Lake

His Name Is Alive
Studio Barnhus Volym 1 cover

Studio Barnhus Volym 1

Various Artists, Studio Barnhus
Victorialand cover

Victorialand

Cocteau Twins