Stereolab - 'Fab Four Suture'

Roll out the analogue barrel, bring on the slightly kooky Francophone dancing girls; its Stereolab, and they are doing exactly the same thing they have been doing for the past fifteen years. Not that this is a bad thing. 'Fab Four Suture' may only be a stop-gap ragbag collection of limited edition singles but there's plenty to please the faithful here. They have never been the most emotionally engaging band in the world, but Leititia Sadler's soaring intonation on Plastic Mile and Interlock tend towards the more affecting end of the drone-rock spectrum. Much of the rest of the album passes by in a melodic, if hardly diverting, manner. It's kind of like soaking in a hot bath while reading a good book - the water's lovely but you hardly notice it. If you like Stereolab then you'll find something to cherish on here. However, if you gag at the prospect of another identikit album of farting moog noises and winsome vocals, then you won't. It's that simple. [Duncan Forgan]