Ever since reuniting in 2019, Stereolab have been touring rather consistently and they've been unpacking hits from their imperial phase in the mid-'90s. Every time, they've done a great job of changing up their set lists to include new unearthed material, making each tour special and unique. By now, they've played a lot of their back catalogue so it was fitting that given their time back together the band would finally get around to record a whole new album worth of music. While that felt almost guaranteed, what wasn't for sure was that the album would be as good as it is since many bands struggle capture their former glory on their comeback records. Now, with a new record under their belt, the Groop is back on the road and they've hit the States for their latest go around and it's exciting to report that not only does their new stuff fit perfectly with their classics, but a lot of the new songs sound even better live than they do on record. Walking out to the electronic flutter of one their new record's lead singles, "Aerial Troubles," the band slid right into the groove and began to flex their funky Jazz and Retro-Pop vibes that would sustain the night. The motorik beats kept coming on another new song, "Mystical Plovisions," before the band dove into a stirring taking on "Motoroller Scalatron." The new songs were a great start to the evening, but when the band reached back to the '90s, that's when the energy really picked up. For the first time in decades, the band has pulled out "Peng! 33" for the first time since 1993 and the surging tune makes not only for a phenomenal add to their live show, but becomes the thrust in the set that catapults the night towards the cosmos and the band settles in to what they do best. The shoegazey guitar tones of the track rush with a urgency and the band becomes a laser focused machine as the buzzing melodies took over and sent the crowd into delirium. Another throwback followed with "The Flower from Nowhere" off of Dots and Loops and it was another key moment of the night that kept the crowd rocking and highlighted more of the band's propulsive energy. "This song is called 'Capitalism is a Wound'" joked Lætitia Sadler as the band geared up for another new song. "I'm not gonna be able to say that in a few days so I'm gonna sneak it in when I can," she continued. As the band struck the electric groove of the song, they put the show into hyperdrive and things really took off. The extended jam through various time signatures was an intergalactic ride that transcended the moment and put the band on a new level as their sonic wonderment soared to new heights. A dazzling feat, the crowd was lost in a total gaze and were at the mercy of the band's celestial jams for the rest of the night. Dipping back and forth between new songs and more of their formative material, it was an excellently balanced show that never found the band resting too firmly in one part of their career which also helped reinforce the timeless feel of not only their new songs, but their entire discography as well. Stereolab have always sounded lightyears ahead of anyone and this remains true decades into their journey. The new instrumental tune "Electrified Teenybop!" gave more opportunity for the audience to get lost in the band's spaced-out moments, the heady grooves really sinking in and putting the focus strongly on the krauty rhythms and locked-in beats. Closing out the main set with "Cybele's Reverie" was another fan favorite that had everyone moving and shaking while the band looked on in total pleasure. Returning for a few more, they stuck to their prime and when a fan inquisitively yelled out "Percolator," Sadler was pleased to confirm the wish. The track ricocheted around the room in one final hurrah from the crowd before the band descended into another teased out track with "Immortal Hands." As the band introduced themselves before stepping off stage for the night, the crowd cheered on and it clear just how elated all in attendance were to be back under the spell of Stereolab and their enduring sound.
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