Stereolab / The Free Design
Artist Stereolab
Album Title: The Free Design
Album Cover:
Primary Genre Alternative & Punk: Indie
Format CD EP
Released 09/06/1999
Label Duophonic Ultra High Frequency Disks
Catalog No D-UHF-CD22
Bar Code No 5 024545 091328
Packaging Jewelcase
Tracks
1. The Free Design (3:46)
2. Escape Pod (From The World Of Medical Observations) (3:57)
3. With Friends Like These (5:49)
4. Les Aimies Des Mémes (3:54)
Date Acquired 12/01/2001
Personal Rating
Acquired from Amazon
Purchase Price 8.00

Web Links

All Music Guide Entry:
Discogs entry:
MusicBrainz entry:
Wikipedia Entry:

Notes

Notes:
All tracks are taken from the Cobra and Phases sessions and, except The Free Design, are exclusive for this release and the issue on vinyl.
Last track is mistyped [Les amies des mêmes].
℗&© 1999 Duophonic Ultra High Frequencey Disks
Sleeve by House at Intro).

Credits:
Arranged By [Brass] – Sean O'Hagan
Producer – The Groop
Recorded By, Mixed By, Producer – Jim O'Rourke (tracks: 1, 3), John McEntire (tracks: 2, 4)
Sleeve – House
Written-By – Sadier, Gane

Companies, etc.:
Glass Mastered At – DOCdata
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Duophonic Ultra High Frequency Disks
Copyright © – Duophonic Ultra High Frequency Disks

Barcode and other Identifiers:
Barcode: 5 024545 091328
Mastering SID Code: IFPI LA31
Matrix / Runout: DUHFCD22 • MASTERED BY DOCDATA

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Analyzed Folder: Stereolab -The Free Design_dr.txt
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DR       Peak         RMS       Filename                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR8    -0.11 dB   -09.15 dB  01- The Free Design.aif
DR9    -0.13 dB   -09.33 dB  02- Escape Pod [From The World Of Medical Observations].aif
DR8    -0.12 dB   -10.58 dB  03- With Friends Like These.aif
DR9    -0.14 dB   -10.13 dB  04- Les Aimies des Memes.aif
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Number of Files: 4
Official DR Value: DR8
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Reviews
All Music Guide Review by Jason Ankeny:

While the title of "The Free Design" pays homage to the cult-favorite harmony-pop outfit of the late '60s, the similarities end there. This percussive, Brazilian-influenced confection from the otherwise disappointing Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night is one of Stereolab's busiest, most densely layered tracks, complete with a thoughtful Laetitia Sadier vocal that perfectly complements her profoundly metaphysical lyrics. The remainder of this four-song EP fails to measure up, however. "Les Aimes des Memes" continues the Brazilian infatuation of "The Free Design" with diminishing results, "With Friends Like These" effortlessly evokes the string-sweetened arrangements of Burt Bacharach's solo LPs, and the electro-burble of "Escape Pod (From the World of Medical Observations)" suffers from the same been-there-done-that malaise that afflicts so much of Cobra and Phases.
Cover 1
Cover 2
Cover 3
Cover 4
Cover 5
Cover 6
Cover 7