Stereolab will release deluxe reissues of 1996’s Emperor Tomato Ketchup, 1997’s Dots & Loops, and 1999’s Cobra And Phases Group Play Voltage In The Milky Night, next week (9/13), each with tons of rarities, demos, alternate versions, b-sides and more. (Pre-order yours.) They’ve just shared two tracks from the Cobra And Phases Group reissue: a remastered version of “Come And Play In The Milky Night” as well as its demo version. Here’s what Tim Gane has to say about the studio version of the song:
For me this is one of the top two or three tracks we ever did and it came about because Andy [Ramsay, drummer] sent me a track to listen to that had an interesting rhythm which he thought would be new and different for us to try and write a song to. It was Howie B‘s “On The Way” and the rhythm was interesting but far too complex for me to do anything with. What I noticed though was the little bass riff that kept going around. After a while it stuck in my mind and I started to play something like it on the guitar, moving it up and down the frets and within a few minutes I’d added some chords and put a melody on and it seemed such a nice little wonderful loopy tune and kind of sad. Turned out to be perfect for the end of the LP with its wistful flutey Mellotron sounds evaporating into the atmosphere.
Listen to both versions of “Come And Play In The Milky Night” below.
Stereolab’s North American tour, which is with Bitchin Bajas, starts later this month and includes two sold-out shows at NYC’s Brooklyn Steel.
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