Stereolab / Pulse of the Early Brain (Switched on Volume 5)
Artist Stereolab
Album Title: Pulse of the Early Brain (Switched on Volume 5)
Album Cover:
Primary Genre Alternative & Punk: Indie
Format CD (2)
Released 09/02/2022
Label Duophonic Ultra High Frequency Disks
Catalog No D-UHF-CD43
Bar Code No 5060263729235
Packaging Cardboard 4 Panel Gatefold
Tracks
Pulse of the Early Brain (Switched on Volume 5) (Disc 1)
1. Simple Headphone Mind / Stereolab & Nurse with Wound (10:46)
2. Trippin' With the Birds / Stereolab & Nurse with Wound (21:01)
3. Low Fi (5:22)
4. (Varoom!) (9:19)
5. Laisser-Faire (4:35)
6. Elektro (He Held the World in His Iron Grip) (8:01)
Pulse of the Early Brain (Switched on Volume 5) (Disc 2)
1. Robot Riot (2:56)
2. Spool of Collusion (2:13)
3. Symbolic Logic of Now! (4:05)
4. Forensic Itch (3:06)
5. Ronco Symphony (Demo) (1:00)
6. ABC (5:16)
7. Magne-Music (3:53)
8. Blaue Milch (4:58)
9. Yes Sir! I Can Moogie (1:03)
10. Plastic Mile (Original Version) (6:34)
11. Refractions in the Plastic Pulse (Feebate Mix) (7:51)
12. Unity Purity Occasional (2:18)
13. The Nth Degrees (4:14)
14. XXXOOO (1:10)
15. Cybele's Reverie (Live at the Hollywood Bowl) (5:47)
Date Acquired 09/05/2022
Personal Rating
Acquired from Amazon
Purchase Price 14.99

Web Links

All Music Guide Entry:
Discogs entry:
MusicBrainz entry:
Wikipedia Entry:

Notes

Notes:
Released in a gatefold cardboard sleeve, CDs in printed inner sleeves. Includes download code.
Track 2-15 recorded live at the Hollywood Bowl.

Track Information:
Simple Headphone Mind’ b/w ‘Trippin’ With The Birds’ was the second collaboration between Nurse With Wound and Stereolab. A 12” disk released on yellow vinyl [1000 copies] and black vinyl [4996 copies] the sleeve was made from a 'mylar style’, aluminium coloured material that was glued and sealed – each purchaser had to open the sleeve to discover which colour vinyl they had bought. The cds were also released in a sealed sleeve. Originally released 28th April 1997 via Duophonic Super 45s. Catalogue numbers DS33-11 / DS45cd-11.

The ‘Low Fi’ ep - ‘Low Fi’, ‘[Varoom!]’, ‘Laisser-Faire’ & ‘Elektro [He Held The World In His Iron Grip]’ was originally released as a limited edition clear vinyl 10” [approx 500 copies], black vinyl 10” and cd. Released 28th September 1992 by Too Pure. Catalogue numbers Pure 14 / Pure CD14.

‘Robot Riot’ & ‘Unity Purity Occasional’ were both written for sculptures made by Charles Long. ‘Unity Purity Occasional’ was used in 2000 for Charles' sculpture of the same name . ‘Robot Riot’ is previously unreleased. (NB Unity Purity Occasional has also been previously released as the second half of Nomus et Phusis on The First Of The Microbe Hunters and as such also appeared on the previous "Switched On" volume Electrically Possessed [Switched On Vol. 4] in that guise

‘Spool Of Collusion’ & ‘Forensic Itch’ were originally released on August 18th 2008 as a black vinyl 7” that was given away with the initial pressing [5000 copies] of the ‘Chemical Chords’ lp. released via Duophonic UHF Disks / 4AD. Catalogue number AD2820. ‘Spool Of Collusion’ was also added, as a bonus track, to the Japanese cd release of ‘Chemical Chords’.

‘Symbolic Logic Of Now!’ was one side of a split 7” with Soi-Disant. 100 copies on blue vinyl and 2000 copies on black vinyl. Originally released in 1998 by Luke Warm Music. Catalogue number LWM001.

‘Ronco Symphony’ [Demo] – a demo version of the track from 1993’s 'The Groop Played "Space Age Batchelor Pad Music"’ album. Previously unreleased (NB - it's not previously unreleased it was on Spacewatch)

A cover of the track ‘ABC’ by The Multitude from The Godz album ‘The Third Testament’. The track was originally recorded for a Godz tribute album called ‘Godz Is Not A Put On’ and released in an edition of 500 copies by Lissy’s records in 1996. The track was later released as one side of a yellow glitter 7” that was part of an exclusive Japanese box set edition of ‘Aluminum Tunes [Switched On Volume 3]’. Yellow glitter 7” – approximately 3000 copies. Catalogue number D-UHF-D21.

‘Magne-Music’ & ‘The Nth Degrees’ were added as bonus tracks to the UK limited edition cd of ‘Chemical Chords’ released 18th August 2008 via Duophonic UHF Disks / 4AD. Catalogue number CADD2815CD. Both tracks also appear on the Japanese edition of ‘Chemical Chords’.

‘Blaue Milch’ was recorded for a Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra compilation album – each artist on the album was sent a Peter Thomas audio track and was asked to build it into a new track. Originally released in 1998 by the Bungalow record label. Catalogue number Bung 048.2.

The original recording of ‘Plastic Mile’. The re-recording was released as a 7” b/w ‘I Was A Sunny Rainphase’ and subsequently compiled onto Stereolab’s ‘Fab Four Suture’ album. Previously unreleased.

‘Yes Sir! I Can Moogie’ was originally released in 1995 as part of a single sided 3 track 7” flexi-disk via Wurlitzer Jukebox. Catalogue number WJ03 - 1000 copies were pressed.

‘Refractions In The Plastic Pulse’, a track from the ‘Dots and Loops’ album remixed by Autechre. A 12” disk released on 20th April 1998 via Duophonic UHF Disks. Catalogue number D-UHF-D19. 500 copies pressed on translucent yellow vinyl and 2972 copies on black vinyl.

‘XXXOOO’ was originally released in 1992 as part of a single sided 3 track 7” flexi-disk via the Encore! label. The flexi-disk was given away with edition #6 of the 'Tea Time' fanzine. Catalogue number Encore 001.

A live version of the ‘Emperor Tomato Ketchup’ album track ‘Cybele's Reverie’. recorded 26th September 2004 when Stereolab supported Air at the Hollywood bowl, CA. USA. Previously unreleased.

Credits:
Management – Pikey
Mastered By – Bo
Sleeve – Vanina Schmitt
Text By ["Unity Purity Occasional" Notes] – Niki Kralli Anell
Written-By – Andrew Ramsay (tracks: 2-3), James McCarthy (tracks: 2-6), Laetitia Sadier (tracks: 1-1 to 2-2, 2-4, 2-5, 2-7 to 2-15), Larry Kessler (tracks: 2-6), Paul Thornton (tracks: 2-6), Peter Thomas (tracks: 2-8), Steven Stapleton (tracks: 1-1, 1-2), Timothy Gane (tracks: 1-1 to 2-5, 2-7 to 2-15)

Companies, etc.:
Recorded At – Hollywood Bowl
Manufactured By – Optimal Media GmbH – AM72144
Manufactured By – Optimal Media GmbH – AM72145

Barcode and other Identifiers:
Barcode (On sticker): 5060263729235
Matrix / Runout (CD 1): D-UHF-CD43 AM72144-01 manufactured by optimal media GmbH
Mastering SID Code (CD 1): IFPI L578
Mould SID Code (CD 1): IFPI 9703
Matrix / Runout (CD 2): D-UHF-CD43 AM72145-01 manufactured by optimal media GmbH
Mastering SID Code (CD 2): IFPI L578
Mould SID Code (CD 2): IFPI 9703

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Analyzed Folder: Stereolab - Pulse Of The Early Brain (Switched On Vol 5) Disc 1_dr.txt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR       Peak          RMS       Filename                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR7    -0.07 dB   -09.05 dB   01 - Simple Headphone Mind.aif
DR8    -0.00 dB   -10.75 dB   02 - Trippin' With The Birds.aif
DR7    -0.17 dB   -08.63 dB   03 - Low Fi.aif              
DR7    -0.17 dB   -09.05 dB   04 - (Varoom!).aif            
DR7    -0.16 dB   -07.96 dB   05 - Laisser-Faire.aif        
DR7    -0.16 dB   -08.76 dB   06 - Elektro [He Held The World In His Iron Grip].aif
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Files: 6
Official DR Value: DR7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed Folder: Stereolab - Pulse Of The Early Brain (Switched On Vol 5) Disc 2_dr.txt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR       Peak          RMS       Filename                        
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR7    -0.15 dB   -08.20 dB   01 - Robot Riot.aif          
DR6    -0.17 dB   -07.62 dB   02 - Spool of Collusion (Remastered).aif
DR7    -0.00 dB   -08.73 dB   03 - Symbolic Logic Of Now!.aif
DR7    -0.13 dB   -09.51 dB   04 - Forensic Itch (Remastered).aif
DR9    -2.53 dB   -13.22 dB   05 - Ronco Symphony [Demo].aif
DR6    -0.17 dB   -06.94 dB   06 - ABC.aif                  
DR7    -0.16 dB   -09.15 dB   07 - Magne-Music (Remastered).aif
DR6    -1.28 dB   -08.89 dB   08 - Blaue Milch.aif          
DR8    -0.20 dB   -09.87 dB   09 - Yes Sir! I Can Moogie.aif
DR7    -0.15 dB   -08.61 dB   10 - Plastic Mile [Original Version].aif
DR7   +0.00 dB   -09.75 dB   11 - Refractions in the Plastic Pulse (Feebate mix).aif
DR8    -0.05 dB   -09.42 dB   12 - Unity Purity Occasional.aif
DR7    -0.11 dB   -08.13 dB   13 - The Nth Degrees (Remastered).aif
DR8    -0.19 dB   -09.61 dB   14 - Xxxooo.aif              
DR7    -0.16 dB   -08.14 dB   15 - Cybele's Reverie [live at the Hollywood Bowl].aif
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Files: 15
Official DR Value: DR7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reviews
All Musid Guide Review by Heather Phares:

Considering how consistently Stereolab collects their hard-to-find releases -- and the wealth of bonus tracks on the late-2010s reissues of their albums -- it's remarkable that there's anything left in their vaults. However, Pulse of the Early Brain: Switched On, Vol. 5 proves there is still plenty of value in the band's archives. Track for track, it may be one of the shorter installments of the Switched On series, but it offers a generous amount of music, not the least of which is the pair of releases that comprise its first half. Pulse of the Early Brain begins with Simple Headphone Mind, a 1997 limited-edition collaboration with Nurse with Wound that transforms "The Long Hair of Death" (which appeared in its original form on a spilt single with Yo La Tengo and on Switched On, Vol. 3: Aluminum Tunes) into euphoric, psychedelic motorik. Though the blobby Moogs and unfazed lockgroove on the title track are expected, the way they're combined is exhilarating, and even more so on "Trippin' with the Birds," which elaborates on the project's themes with fractal-like intricacy.

As welcome as it is to have Simple Headphone Mind widely available, the most significant release collected on Pulse of the Early Brain is the Low Fi EP. Arriving in September 1992 -- shortly after Stereolab released the first Switched On -- the EP fell through the cracks of the band's reissues for 30 years. That's something of a shame, since it's Stereolab's first release to feature beloved vocalist/keyboardist Mary Hansen and longtime drummer Andy Ramsay, both of whom make their mark on the EP's blissfully loud and transporting rock. On "Low Fi" and "Laisser-Faire" (a brilliant live version of which appeared on ABC Music: The Radio 1 Sessions), the vocal interplay between Hansen and Laetitia Sadier and the fuzzed-out keyboards and guitars cresting and crashing over Ramsay's bashed kit is early 'Lab at its finest. Later, "Elektro [he held the world in his iron grip]" morphs from analog synth shenanigans to weightless pop guided by Sadier and Hansen's counterpoint, capturing how the group made these shifts seem effortless.

Pulse of the Early Brain's second half goes deeper into eclecticism, juxtaposing concise tracks such as the buzzy, previously unreleased "Robot Riot" (which the band composed for their Music for the Amorphous Body Study Center collaborator, Charles Long) and the chamber-pop whimsy of Chemical Chords bonus tracks like "Spool of Collusion" with the avant-garde sci-fi jazz of "Symbolic Logic of Now!" and Autechre's spectral yet hard-hitting remix of "Refractions in the Plastic Pulse" for maximum impact. Though a handful of tracks fall into the category of fun but not essential, Pulse of the Early Brain feels more necessary than some of the previous Switched On volumes. As it covers a wide swath of the band's career, it provides a few surprises for even the most avid fans -- and whether listeners are hearing these songs for the first time or the first time in a long time, they sound equally great.
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