Stereolab – Emperor Tomato Ketchup

Album Info

Artist: Stereolab

Title: Emperor Tomato Ketchup

Year: 1996

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Tracklist

  • 1. Metronomic Underground (7:54)
  • 2. Cybele's Reverie (4:42)
  • 3. Percolator (4:14)
  • 4. Les Yper-Sound (4:17)
  • 5. Spark Plug (2:29)
  • 6. Olv 26 (5:42)
  • 7. The Noise Of Carpet (3:04)
  • 8. Tomorrow Is Already Here (4:56)
  • 9. Emperor Tomato Ketchup (4:38)
  • 10. Monstre Sacre (3:44)
  • 11. Motoroller Scalatron (3:48)
  • 12. Slow Fast Hazel (4:06)
  • 13. Anonymous Collective (4:32)
  • 1. Freestyle Dumpling (3:57)
  • 2. Noise Of Carpet (Original Mix) (3:07)
  • 3. Old Lungs (8:00)
  • 4. Percolator (Original Mix) (4:54)
  • 5. Cybele's Reverie (Demo) (2:06)
  • 6. Spark Plug (Demo) (1:29)
  • 7. Spinal Column (Demo) (0:54)
  • 8. Emperor Tomato Ketchup (Demo) (2:14)
  • 9. Les Yper Sound (Demo) (0:53)
  • 10. Metronomic Underground (Demo) (2:49)
  • 11. Percolator (Demo) (1:00)
  • 12. Tomorrow Is Already Here (Demo) (2:35)
  • 13. Brigitte (Demo) (3:08)
  • 14. Motoroller Scalatron (Demo) (1:48)
  • 15. Anonymous Collective (Demo) (2:20)

Review

Stereolab’s Emperor Tomato Ketchup is a shimmering, hypnotic masterpiece of ’90s avant-pop, blending krautrock rhythms, lounge-inflected melodies, and experimental electronics. Released in 1996, the album finds the band at the height of their creative powers, seamlessly merging motorik grooves with lush, layered arrangements that feel both futuristic and retro. Lætitia Sadier’s cool, detached vocals float over the compositions, grounding the swirling textures with an understated elegance.

Songs like “Metronomic Underground” and “Cybele’s Reverie” showcase Stereolab’s ability to combine repetitive, driving structures with inventive instrumentation, from Moog synthesizers to brass flourishes. The album balances accessibility with experimentation, offering tracks that are catchy yet richly detailed, rewarding repeated listens with subtle shifts and hidden sonic pleasures. Lyrically, it’s a playful, surrealist exploration of politics, society, and desire, delivered with the band’s signature intellectual wit.

Emperor Tomato Ketchup remains one of Stereolab’s defining works, a record that feels timeless in its innovation and hypnotic charm. It’s cerebral yet inviting, experimental yet irresistibly melodic — an album that captures the band’s unique voice and enduring influence. - Clara

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