Brakhage – Stereolab

My last post will be about my favorite song from London based art pop band “Stereolab”. Known for the rich, densely packed tracks filled with minimalist soundscapes, their album “Dots and Loops” captures this sound the best in my opinion. No track exemplifies this oxymoronic sound better than “Brakhage”. Named after the last name of experimental filmmaker, Stan Brakhage, (one of my favorites) this song is a textbook case of perfect build-up, layering, and sequencing. Starting off with harsh, almost glitchy sounding synths, the track begins to swirl into a soup of sound. The bassline starts to kick in, along with the drums, until multiple synths enter, some rhythmic, some carrying a motif or melody. We are left with this beautiful sounding mixture until the first verse begins. The lyrics are poignant but simple. They do not overstay their welcome in any way, and act more as an instrument than the centerpiece of the song. During the chorus, a lovely guitar riff can be heard accompanying the vocals. At this point, every instrument has made itself known. The sections flow together perfectly, and no specific instrument takes precedence over another. The song acts as a well oiled machine with all of its moving parts on full display. It is one of my favorite songs, and it never gets old to listen to.