''Margerine Eclipse'' is the eighth studio album by English-French

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band

Stereolab Stereolab are an Anglo- French avant-pop band formed in London in 1990. Led by the songwriting team of Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier, the group's music combines influences from krautrock, lounge and 1960s pop music, often incorporating a repeti ...

. It was released on 27 January 2004 in the United States by Elektra Records and on 2 February 2004 in the United Kingdom by

Duophonic Records Duophonic Ultra High Frequency Disks Limited (also known as Duophonic Records or Duophonic Super 45s) is a British independent record label formed by English-French rock band Stereolab in 1991. The label has two imprints: Duophonic Ultra High ...

. The album is in large part a eulogy to former band member

Mary Hansen Mary Therese Hansen (1 November 1966 9 December 2002) was an Australian-born guitarist and singer. She joined the London-based avant-pop band Stereolab in 1992. As a member, Hansen recorded six studio albums from '' Transient Random-Noise Burs ...

, who died in 2002. By June 2004, ''Margerine Eclipse'' had sold over 40,000 copies in United States. A remastered and expanded edition of the album was released by Duophonic and

Warp Warp, warped or warping may refer to: Arts and entertainment Books and comics * WaRP Graphics, an alternative comics publisher * ''Warp'' (First Comics), comic book series published by First Comics based on the play ''Warp!'' * Warp (comics), a ...

on 29 November 2019.

Background

In December 2002, Stereolab member

was killed in a cycling accident. The band subsequently dedicated ''Margerine Eclipse'' to Hansen, with the lyrics of the song "Feel and Triple" making specific reference to her. Shortly before work commenced on the album, band members

Tim Gane Timothy John Gane (born 12 July 1964) is an English songwriter and guitarist who co-founded Stereolab with his then-partner Lætitia Sadier.Gregory, Andy (ed.) (2002) ''International Who's Who in Popular Music, 2002'', Europa Publications Limite ...

and

Lætitia Sadier Lætitia Sadier (born 6 May 1968, sometimes known as Seaya Sadier) is a French musician, best known as a founding member of the London-based avant-pop band Stereolab. In 1996, while Stereolab was still active, she formed the side project Monade. ...

ended their romantic relationship. Their breakup is alluded to in Sadier's lyrics for the song "Hillbilly Motobike". ''Margerine Eclipse'' was mixed with full stereo separation – or as Stereolab termed it, in "dual mono". For every song, the band made two recordings – each with a different arrangement – then created a final mix by synchronising both recordings together, with one on the left channel and the other on the right channel. The technique was also used on the band's 2003 EP ''

Instant 0 in the Universe ''Instant 0 in the Universe'' is a 2003 EP by Stereolab. It was released as three 7" singles in a slipcase as well as on CD. This was the first release by the group after the death of longtime member Mary Hansen in December 2002. It was also t ...

''.

Track listing

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes. Stereolab *

– electric guitar, electronics, organ *

– vocals, trombone on "Margerine Melodie" * Dominic Jeffery – organ, electric piano, harpsichord, celeste * Simon Johns – bass, drums on "Margerine Rock" * Andy Ramsay – drums, drum machine Additional musicians * Fulton Dingley – drum machine, synthesizer,

MIDI MIDI (; Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a technical standard that describes a communications protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, and ...

, percussion *

Sean O'Hagan Sean O'Hagan (born 1959) is an Irish singer, songwriter, and arranger who leads the avant-pop band the High Llamas, which he founded in 1992. He is also known for being one half of the songwriting duo (with Cathal Coughlan) in Microdisney and ...

– keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars, other instruments * Jan St. Werner – electronics on "Vonal Declosion" and "Feel and Triple" Production * Fulton Dingley –

engineering Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more speciali ...

, mixing * Stereolab (credited as "The Groop") – mixing

Charts

References

External links

''Margerine Eclipse''
at official Stereolab website * * {{Authority control 2004 albums Stereolab albums Elektra Records albums