Chemical Chords is the ninth studio album by English-French rock band Stereolab, released on 18 August 2008 by 4AD and Duophonic Records.[14][15]

Chemical Chords
Studio album by
Released18 August 2008 (2008-08-18)
Recorded2007
Studio
  • Instant Zero (France)
  • Press Play (London)
Genre
Length48:09
Label
Stereolab chronology
Serene Velocity
(2006)
Chemical Chords
(2008)
Not Music
(2010)
Singles from Chemical Chords
  1. "Three Women"
    Released: 28 April 2008[3]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic72/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
The A.V. ClubB+[6]
Drowned in Sound8/10[7]
The Guardian[8]
The Irish Times[9]
Mojo[10]
Pitchfork8.1/10[11]
Spin[12]
Uncut[13]
XLR8R7/10[2]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Lætitia Sadier and Tim Gane, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Neon Beanbag" 3:49
2."Three Women" 3:46
3."One Finger Symphony" 2:05
4."Chemical Chords" 5:12
5."The Ecstatic Static" 4:44
6."Valley Hi!" 2:14
7."Silver Sands" 3:08
8."Pop Molecule (Molecular Pop 1)"Gane2:15
9."Self Portrait with 'Electric Brain'" 3:16
10."Nous vous demandons pardon" 4:52
11."Cellulose Sunshine" 2:36
12."Fractal Dream of a Thing" 3:37
13."Daisy Click Clack" 3:28
14."Vortical Phonotheque" 3:07
Total length:48:09
iTunes Store edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
15."Spool of Collusion"2:12
Total length:50:21
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
15."The Nth Degrees"4:13
16."Magne-Music"3:53
17."Spool of Collusion"2:10
Total length:58:25
UK limited edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
15."The Nth Degrees"4:13
16."Magne-Music"3:53
Total length:56:15

Personnel

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Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[16]

Stereolab

Additional musicians

  • Steve Hamilton – brass
  • Sally Herbert – strings
  • Marcus Holdaway – strings
  • Dave Liddell – brass
  • Laura Melhuish – strings
  • Sean O'Hagan – string and brass arrangements
  • Brian Wright – strings

Production

  • Bo Kondren (credited as "Bo") – mastering
  • Hans Schaaf (credited as "Hans") – mastering (assistant)
  • Stereolab (credited as "The Groop") – mixing
  • Joe Watson – mixing, recording

Design

Charts

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Chart (2008) Peak
position
Irish Albums (IRMA)[17] 69
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[18] 163
UK Albums (OCC)[19] 102
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[20] 10
US Billboard 200[21] 170
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[22] 7
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[23] 24

References

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  1. ^ Wisgard, Alex (15 November 2010). "Stereolab – Not Music". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b Colly, Joe (25 July 2008). "Stereolab: Chemical Chords". XLR8R. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  3. ^ Walker, Rich (28 April 2008). "Hear 'Three Women' by Stereolab Now". 4AD. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Chemical Chords by Stereolab Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  5. ^ Phares, Heather. "Chemical Chords – Stereolab". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  6. ^ Alston, Joshua (19 August 2008). "Stereolab: Chemical Chords". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  7. ^ Ross, Daniel (1 August 2008). "Album Review: Stereolab – Chemical Chords". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  8. ^ Rogers, Jude (15 August 2008). "Pop review: Stereolab, Chemical Chords". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  9. ^ Gleeson, Sinéad (22 August 2008). "Stereolab: Chemical Chords (4AD)". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  10. ^ Myers, Ben (September 2008). "Stereolab: Chemical Chords". Mojo. No. 178. p. 106.
  11. ^ Battaglia, Andy (19 August 2008). "Stereolab: Chemical Chords". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  12. ^ Walters, Barry (August 2008). "Stereolab: Chemical Chords". Spin. Vol. 24, no. 8. pp. 111–112. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  13. ^ Troussé, Stephen (12 August 2008). "Stereolab – Chemical Chords". Uncut. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Stereolab – Welcome, Bienvenue, Willkommen". 4AD. 24 April 2008. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2008.
  15. ^ Thompson, Paul (18 April 2008). "Stereolab to issue Chemical Chords in August". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2008.
  16. ^ Chemical Chords (liner notes). Stereolab. 4AD. 2008. CAD2815CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ "Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 28 August 2008". GfK Chart-Track. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  18. ^ "ケミカル・コーズ | ステレオラブ" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Chart Log UK: DJ S – The System Of Life". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  20. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  21. ^ "Stereolab Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Stereolab Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  23. ^ "Stereolab Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
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