Since 1990, led by French singer Laetitia Sadier, Stereolab's electro-rock music
has tugged between easy listening and the experimental. In between are
krautrock, psychedelic and film soundtrack influences, echoed on the albums
Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announdements (1993), Emperor Tomato Ketchup
(1996) and Sound-Dust (2001). In 2002, the Bordeaux-based band lost guitarist
Mary Hansen in a traffic accident. After Margerine Eclipse (2004), followed by a
long silence, Stereolab returned in 2008 with Chemical Chords and its sequel Not
Music in 2010.