Pulse Of The Early Brain [Switched On Volume 5] cover

Pulse Of The Early Brain [Switched On Volume 5]

Released

Five volumes on, and there’s still more to mop up from the Stereolab story. Pulse of the Early Brain is worth it for their second Nurse With Wound collaboration, “Simple Headphone Mind,” which is hypnotic and playful in an early Kraftwerk style, and the drone-garage surrealism of 1992’s “Low Fi” EP. But it also compiles, finally, their utterly bonkers Godz cover, “ABC (The Multitude),” some stray demos that are tender and muted, extra material from the Chemical Chords/Not Music sessions, and more. Pointing towards the more experimental side of Stereolab’s oeuvre, but finishing up with an energetic, feisty live performance of “Cybele’s Reverie,” Pulse of the Early Brain transcends its compilation status – it’s a necessary index of possibilities from a group who opened many doors.

Jon Dale

Suggestions
Horizon cover

Horizon

Trash Kit
The Soft Pack cover

The Soft Pack

The Soft Pack
The Thicket cover

The Thicket

David Grubbs
Lisbon cover

Lisbon

The Walkmen
Now Only cover

Now Only

Mount Eerie
Secession 96 cover

Secession 96

Magic Hour
The Rockingbirds cover

The Rockingbirds

The Rockingbirds
Alphaville cover

Alphaville

Government Alpha
Reunion of Island Goose cover

Reunion of Island Goose

International Airport