Stereo Total

Baby ouh! [2010]

ER-1150 CD

Raise your hand if you know a group with a more punk attitude today. Weren’t we just talking about that Spanish-sung compilation disc that was “No Controles” a few months ago? The thing is, is that that pair of pop culture agitators (and terrorists) that are Françoise Cactus and Brezel Göring are back with a new disc. Seventeen songs selected from more than 40, with highlights like “No Controles” from OLÉ OLÉ, and “Voy a Ser Mamá” from ALMODOVAR Y MACNAMARA (this time in English!!), revisitations of incomparable characters (Divine in “Divine’s Handtasche” and Andy Warhol in the song named after him), versions of all kinds, from Brigitte Fontaine (“Barbe À Papa”), to KRAFTWEERK (“Tour de France”), including Rita Pavone (“Wenn ich ein Junge wär”, which was also made popular by Nina Hagen in 1979) and the Canadian trio SOUPIR (“Larmes De Mêtal”), impossible punk (“Babyboom Ohne Mich”), special journeys to unforgettable melodies (“Baby Ouh”), but above all their on-target quality that is as identifiably theirs as a flag and that only they can sufficiently raise with pride (“Alaska”, “Lady Dandy”).

This is a disc with STEREO TOTAL letting loose its most guitar-heavy side, like what is coiled within the ferocity of LE TIGRE and the immediacy of THE RAMONES. Such a cocktail can only turn out to be an incredible collection of amazing choruses, new proof of why STEREO TOTAL are and will continue to be such a unique band, inimitable, with an unmistakable personality and a boundless, spot-on immediacy. They themselves have used the perfect words to define themselves, while talking about this latest work: hysterical glamour. No kidding.

No controles [2009]

ER-1145 CD

What could have been an album of the Berlin-based duo’s most prized songs revisited in Spanish (this isn’t the first time they have shown their passion for singing in various languages, like French, German, English, Italian, Turkish or Japanese), has ended up also including a small yet incredible collection of versions, the majority of which are exquisitely selected from the Spanish pop songbook of the last decades. And after more than 15 years giving us addictive pieces of the best Electro-pop (with touches of Punk, Disco, New wave and Garage), Françoise Cactus and Brezel Göring couldn’t approach this furtive and agile look back differently: unprejudiced, with a mischievous attitude and above all enormously fun and enjoyable. This is how we should take the revision of songs like “No Controles” from OLE OLE, “Voy a Ser Mamá” by ALMODOVAR and McNAMARA (electro-punk band of film director Pedro Almodovar at the beginning of the 80’s), and “C’est Fini” by LA CASA AZUL. It is surprising to be able to listen to these songs oozing through the STEREO TOTAL filter and sung in Spanish with that familiar French accent. And what’s more, we have the occasion to enjoy songs from all of the stages of the group again, including two songs from THE LOLITAS (the group that Françoise made her name with in the middle of the 80s, and who released four albums in France and Germany). “Wir tanzen im 4-Eck” is now “Bailamos en Cuadrado”, “Everybody in The Discotheque (I Hate)” is rebaptized as “Todo El Mundo en La Discoteca”, “Plus Minus Null” is “Más Menos Cero” and their incredible “L’amour à 3” is “Amo Amor a Tres”. What this means is, we are witnessing a reinvention, an ephemeral rebirth; a different language, songs in different forms (many of them mutate most curiously)… All of this is effected with that rebellious and non-conformist attitude, accentuated by a surprising touch of rock’n roll and with the guarantee of one of the best contemporary hit-makers. As if looking back were just an illusion, a way of thinking in order to live the present more intensely. An abundant banquet, an unrepeatable menu, with sophisticated French aromas, the strength of German raw materials, and that sunny seasoning of the Mediterranean diet, all loaded with spice, Tabasco and cayenne. A musical orgy, barbaric, ruffian, in which sex plays an important role again, where KRAFTWERK practice a libidinous game with the Welsh masses, and the RAMONES declare a pillow fight with Plastic Bertrand, while URSULA 1000 plays songs in a stellar bacchanal. And since it couldn’t be any other way, STEREO TOTAL return to compel and surprise us, making their own path, ignoring all the known and unknown rules, destroying the concept of the compilation, adapting it to what they want, to what appeals to them, giving us the gift of so much hedonism and lust for life.

**There´s a limited edition of this album for vinyl lovers. [White colour vinyl]

Plástico EP [2007]

ER-257 Single 7"

Françoise Cactus and Brezel Göring [STEREO TOTAL], make their comeback in 2007 with the new album (the fantastic “Paris-Berlin”) which brings them back to their lo-fi roots. The best group in the world, according to MOMUS and “…the best pop group in the world” as noted in The Guardian, has shown that their formula stands stronger than ever with this album. Rough edged, romantic, vulgar, warm and in your face as always are the key components which bequeath us with the 14 shots launched against boredom and apathy. One of them being “Plastic” which Françoise and Brezel chose to open up their first Single for Elefant, this time in a fun Spanish version. As their followers know, this French-German duo has always toyed singing in other languages on their albums. They have sang in Japonese, Turkish, Italian, English and also in Spanish. It’s the first time they have released an album entirely in our language and furthermore, with the peculiarity of the remaining songs being covers of classic songs from the Elefant catalogue chosen by the artists themselves. The first pleasing song is one of the most popular hits of LA CASA AZUL, "C'est fini" (which is off the album "Tan simple como el amor") a sparkling mix of rock, jumping sensations and rawness all in one. Continuing to mesmerize us, the next cover is from the group LE MANS, “Un Rayo de Sol” from the album of the same title. This version respects the original so much that you can hardly tell the difference if it were not for the absence of the sax simple. To finísh up, “Arte” by NOSOTRÄSH, which opens their album "Popemas" in a dub version which quite frankly seems to be a remix of Ibon Errazquin in love with reggae and Jamaican sounds. If you’re still not convinced of the wonder of this album, the vinyl comes in scarlet passioned red. Enough said!

Limited edition [Red Vinyl]