REFRIED ECTOPLASM is a compilation of rare tracks, most of which were originally released on 7-inch vinyl between July 1992 and March 1994, and two previously unreleased tracks. Stereolab: Laetitia Sadier, Mary Hansen (vocals); Tim Gane (guitar, Farfisa organ, Moog synthesizer); Katherine Gifford, Sean O'Hagan (organ); Mick Conroy (Farfisa organ); Duncan Brown, Martin Kean (bass); Joe Dilworth, Andy Ramsey (drums). Additional personnel: Nurse With Wound. Engineers include: Robbs, Steve Mack, The Groop. Stereolab's REFRIED ECTOPLASM is a collection of limited-edition vinyl singles the band has been releasing on its own Duophonic Super 45s label, as well as other hard-to-find doo-dads from throughout its lifespan. It's like a career overview without all the stuff you've heard before. As such, it defines Stereolab's musical aesthetic as well as any of their other "albums": driving, electric-organ-drenched, VU-propelled space-pop whose wide-eyed beauty is balanced by its sheer simplicity and by Laetitia Sadier's minimalist vocal delivery (often in a foreign tongue). Mostly, Stereolab's is a thick, airborne drone, but one that is all-encompassing enough to sound pretty on some occasions and difficult on others. On the one hand there are the actively odd studio sounds, and wide-ranging Beach Boys-like harmonies that bring their pop virtues to the fore ("Lo Boob Oscillator"); on the other hand, there are abrasive, rhythmic journeys with sonic pranksters Nurse With Wound, which tune into the 'lab's experimental impulses ("Animal Or Vegetable"). The best tunes, like the proletariat-minded "Exploding Head Movie," do both.

1. Harmonium
2. Lo Boob Oscillator
3. Mountain
4. Revox
5. French Disko
6. Exploding Head Movie
7. Eloge D'eros
8. Tone Burst [country]
9. Animal or Vegetable [a wonderful wooden reason]
10. John Cage Bubblegum
11. Sadistic
12. Farfisa
13. Tempter