Chemical Chords

Chemical Chords
Studio album by Stereolab
Released	18 August 2008 (2008-08-18)
Recorded	2007
Studio	Instant Zero (France) Press Play (London)
Genre	Indie pop[1] lounge[2]
Length	48:09
Label	4AD Duophonic
Stereolab chronology
Serene Velocity (2006) Chemical Chords (2008) Not Music (2010)
Singles from Chemical Chords
"Three Women" Released: 28 April 2008[3]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	72/100[4]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
The A.V. Club	B+[6]
Drowned in Sound	8/10[7]
The Guardian	[8]
The Irish Times	[9]
Mojo	[10]
Pitchfork	8.1/10[11]
Spin	[12]
Uncut	[13]
XLR8R	7/10[2]

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]

Track listing

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

No.	Title	Writer(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)"	Gane	2:15
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.	Title	Length
15.	"Spool of Collusion"	2:12
Total length:		50:21

Japanese edition bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
15.	"The Nth Degrees"	4:13
16.	"Magne-Music"	3:53
Total length:		56:15

Personnel

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

Stereolab

• Tim Gane – guitar, bass, drums
• Lætitia Sadier – vocals
• Simon Johns – bass
• Andy Ramsay – drums, drum machine, electronics
• Joe Walters – French horn
• Joe Watson – keyboards, vibraphone, electronics, drums

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

• House – artwork

Charts

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

1. Wisgard, Alex (15 November 2010). "Stereolab – Not Music". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
2. 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.
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.

External links

• Chemical Chords at Discogs (list of releases)
• Chemical Chords at MusicBrainz (list of releases)