Style overtakes substance on eighth album

Ripping apart Stereolab's new album Sound-Dust is a difficult task, because it's hard to really generate any ill will toward it, but there's not much of a reason to be particularly excited by it. The completely neutral reaction the record evokes is exactly its problem. Sound-Dust is dictionary definition Stereolab: laid-back Euro lounge-pop, full of kitschy keyboard noises, jazzy arrangements and Laetitia Sadier's French vocals.\nThe arrangements, production and overall sonic construction of Sound-Dust are, as expected, immaculate. Flanked once again by American hipsters John McEntire and Jim O'Rourke, the 'Lab's studio skill is immediately apparent on short opening track "Black Ants in Sound-Dust," which slowly layers beeps, chimes, synths and horns into a glorious cacophony that segues nicely into "Spacemoth," a multi-part stroll through Stereolab's trademark retro-1960s smorgasbord.\nBut by the end of "Captain Easychord," the third track and lead single, the album has already begun its slow descent into The Land of the Empty Style Exercise. The music slowly fades into the background of the listener's consciousness as track after track features almost exactly the same combination of keyboard groove, horn flourish and smooth vocals. It's not that the Emperor has no clothes -- he has very nice clothes, but he keeps switching neckties so we'll think he has more than one outfit.\nEveryone has a favorite group or artist who they can't get enough of, and for the Stereolab faithful, this record may not be a disappointment. But if you're a novice and want some 'Lab on your shelf, this is not the place to start. Sound-Dust is talent without inspiration, and ultimately, that's not enough.