Stereolab Oscillates Hollywood

     The Henry Fonda Theatre (Music Box) in Hollywood served as the crucible for the highly reactive elements of Stereolab this past Tuesday. It had been a while since I saw them open up for Sonic Youth at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia (6/18/00), and was also my first time experiencing the revamped line-up. Most notable was the absense of vocalist Mary Hansen, who passed away in late 2002. She has been dearly missed, but the groop hinted at her irreplaceable high-pitched elegance with trumpet sounds. It was more sublte than Hansen’s vocals, which used to comprise half of the perfect vocal tandem with siren Laetitia Sadier. The plus side of the refreshed Stereolab was the constant presence of that same horn player, blowing out smooth aural treats with the French horn as well as trumpet. Still, the keyboards ruled the sound waves. My feet fought inertia like pop-rocks to the synth-injected tunes on Sunset Blvd.
     The multi-talented Sadier also played the trombone on a few numbers, as well as the mainstay Moog keyboard. Even with all that, she still has a voice that can’t be matched, let alone described in a blog. Sadier filled the Fonda with silver plated clouds, a consistent bliss for any music fan.
     At the core of the band is Tim Gane and his spaceage bachelor pad guitar work, modestly in the back corner of the stage shaking his head back and forth with the beat.
     Sam Prekop and Archer Prewitt from the Sea and Cake opened up.