Review: Stereolab "Instant Holograms on Metal Film"

Stereolab is back with their first studio album in 15 years. Instant Holograms on Metal Film was released on May 23, 2025, just as the trees were blossoming and the sun began to linger a little longer in the sky. As spring gives way to summer, Stereolab presents a musical return that reinforces its tone and dabbles in new melodies.

Stereolab holds true to its unique blend of synthesizers and jazz, a kind of retro-futurist jazz fusion for the modern era. The band first emerged in London in the early 1990s, founded by English musician Tim Gane and French musician Lætitia Sadier. The two joined forces as a songwriting duo and commenced on a journey through genres. They’re still swimming through the sound waves, touring regularly around the world, and delivering music that fuses philosophical inquiry with dreamy composition.

Photo Credit: Raph_PH via Flickr

Instant Holograms on Metal Film begins with "Mystical Plosives," a one-minute electronic tune. A chorus of “beeps” and “boops” welcomes us to their 11th studio album, a new world for our ears to explore. The track is framed like a prologue. The world is building before us; synthesizers bounce around with energy like a meteor shower. We begin. The tone drops. We’re instantly met with minor chords, an echoing, dark piano melody that introduces us to something more sinister.

Though Stereolab is often labeled “experimental pop,” it’s easy to overlook the political and philosophical weight embedded in their lyrics. But this album, perhaps more than any in their catalog, makes that weight feel inescapable. Their lyrics poetically explore thought-provoking themes such as hope, helplessness, and love. In beautiful strings of words, Stereolab captures the complexities of human life.

“Aerial Troubles” plunges us into the depths of existential exhaustion before giving way to a funky beat inspired by the electronic elements of disco. Despite the abrupt changes in tone, the lyrics still lead us to think about over-consumption, greed, and unhealthy forms of escapism.

“The numbing is not working anymore (An unfillable hole) / An insatiable state of consumption / Systemic (Assigned trajectory) extortion.”

“Melodie Is A Wound” continues this juxtaposition between sound and word. We’re met with an easy-going melody that builds upon itself with elements of jazz percussion. The instrumentation is light and airy, giving space to the words that are uttered by Sadier. She speaks about truth and the suppression of it at the hands of those in power. In short sentences, she perfectly sums up the constant search for clarity. She leaves us with a powerful final phrase and gives the second half of the almost eight-minute tune to let it settle in. A chorus that expertly blends synthesized soundscapes with the brash of drums and electric guitar. We think, we yearn.

“Truthfulness has fallen in desuetude.”

Later, “Immortal Hands” takes us on a soulful journey towards the freedom that lies within ourselves, beyond the ego of the material world. When the saxophones are introduced, there’s nothing left to do but let go and dance. “Vermona F Transistor” ruminates on the idea of our higher selves and the power we have to create our reality. The funk continues, and we are encouraged to think deeply. “La Coeur Et La Force,” which translates to heart and strength, explores exactly what the title suggests. Stereolab always includes French in their albums, holding to their roots. “Electrified Teenybop!” marks the midpoint of the album, a hypnotizing beat that pushes the album forward. Each tune holds its own theme, and all expertly complement each other.

“I’m the creator of this reality / Not the joker who pretends a God to be”

Instant Holograms on Metal Film comes to a close with epic songs about revelation, hope, and truth. Strong messages that drive home the work we need to do to better our future and full-bodied instrumentations give the album a fantastic finish. We hold fear, we ruminate, and the key step that follows is reconnecting with love and personal power. Stereolab leaves us with this:

“We’re embodied here, power to choose / Wisdom, faith, courage are necessary”

Sadier’s lyrics prove that music can be used as a tool. Melodies draw us in, and lyrics can change our worldview. Stereolab presents a cohesive project that reflects on the questions that arise throughout our lives: How do we lead with our hearts? How do we combat powers that only seek to control us? Instant Holograms on Metal Film reminds us that the music-listening experience can be a thoughtful moment to connect with oneself and this big, ever-changing world that surrounds us.

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