Margerine Eclipse

Margerine Eclipse
Studio album by
Stereolab
Released27 January 2004 (2004-01-27)
Recorded2003
StudioInstant Zero (France)
Genres
Length53:41
Languages
  • English
  • French
Labels
Stereolab chronology
Instant 0 in the Universe
(2003)		 Margerine Eclipse
(2004)		 Oscillons from the Anti-Sun
(2005)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic77/100
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar
Alternative Press4/5
Drowned in Sound8/10
Entertainment WeeklyA−
MojoStarStarStar
The ObserverStarStarStarStar
Pitchfork7.6/10
Rolling StoneStarStarStar
SpinB−
UncutStarStarStar

Margerine Eclipse is the eighth studio album by English-French rock band Stereolab. 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. The album is in large part a eulogy to band member Mary Hansen, who died in 2002.

By June 2004, Margerine Eclipse had sold over 40,000 copies in the US. A remastered and expanded edition of the album was released by Duophonic and Warp on 29 November 2019.

Background

In December 2002, Stereolab member Mary Hansen 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 and Lætitia Sadier 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.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier.

No.TitleLength
1."Vonal Declosion"3:34
2."Need to Be"4:50
3."'...Sudden Stars'"4:41
4."Cosmic Country Noir"4:47
5."La Demeure"4:36
6."Margerine Rock"2:56
7."The Man with 100 Cells"3:47
8."Margerine Melodie"6:19
9."Hillbilly Motobike"2:23
10."Feel and Triple"4:53
11."Bop Scotch"3:59
12."Dear Marge"6:56
Total length:53:41
Japanese edition
No.TitleLength
10."La Spirale"2:24
11."Feel and Triple"4:53
12."Bop Scotch"3:59
13."Dear Marge"6:56
Total length:56:05
2019 expanded edition bonus disc
No.TitleLength
1."Mass Riff"6:30
2."Good Is Me"5:27
3."Microclimate"4:39
4."Mass Riff" (instrumental intro)1:13
5."Jaunty Monty and the Bubbles of Silence"4:30
6."Banana Monster ne répond plus"4:28
7."University Microfilms International"4:01
8."Rose, My Rocket-Brain! (Rose, le cerveau electronique de ma fusée!)"5:26
Total length:36:14

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.

Stereolab

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Chart (2004) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (Official Charts)86
UK Albums (Official Charts)108
UK Independent Albums (Official Charts)11
US Billboard 200174
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)6

References

  1. 1 2 3 Woodcraft, Molloy (1 February 2004). "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". The Observer. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  2. ↑ Cairns, Dan (1 February 2004). "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. ↑ Korenkiewicz, Jason (10 February 2004). "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". PopMatters. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "Margerine Eclipse by Stereolab Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  5. 1 2 Phares, Heather. "Margerine Eclipse – Stereolab". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  6. ↑ "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". Alternative Press. No. 188. March 2004. p. 94.
  7. ↑ Robbins, Andy (22 January 2004). "Album Review: Stereolab – Margerine Eclipse". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  8. ↑ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (26 January 2004). "Margerine Eclipse". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  9. ↑ Barnes, Mike (March 2004). "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". Mojo. No. 124. p. 90.
  10. ↑ Leone, Dominique (15 January 2004). "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  11. ↑ Sanneh, Kelefa (5 February 2004). "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  12. ↑ Beaujon, Andrew; Brod, Doug; Chow, Alexander; Day, Adrienne; Greenwald, Andy; Gross, Joe; Hermes, Will; Matos, Michaelangelo (March 2004). "Breakdown". Spin. Vol. 20, no. 3. p. 96. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  13. ↑ "Stereolab: Margerine Eclipse". Uncut. No. 82. March 2004. p. 90.
  14. 1 2 Pike, Martin (10 October 2003). "News". stereolab.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 December 2003. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  15. ↑ "Stereolab Peers At The 'Eclipse'". Billboard. 2 December 2003. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  16. 1 2 McNair, James (30 January 2004). "Stereolab: Total eclipse of the heart". The Independent. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  17. ↑ Eliscu, Jenny (3 June 2004). "Warner to Ax Eighty Artists". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  18. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (8 October 2019). "Stereolab Announce Sound-Dust and Margerine Eclipse Reissues". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  19. 1 2 Himes, Geoffrey (16 April 2004). "Stereolab 'Margerine Eclipse' Elektra". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  20. ↑ Brasor, Philip (11 April 2004). "Stereolab". The Japan Times. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 Wolk, Douglas (31 March 2004). "Living in Dual Mono". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on 22 June 2004. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  22. ↑ "Stereolab – Margerine Eclipse (Expanded Edition)". Duophonic Ultra High Frequency Disks. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  23. ↑ Margerine Eclipse (liner notes). Stereolab. Duophonic Records. 2004. D-UHF-CD29.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 8/2/2004 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  25. ↑ "Chart Log UK: DJ S – The System Of Life". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  26. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 8/2/2004 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  27. ↑ "Stereolab Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  28. ↑ "Stereolab Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2017.