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![Stereolab Essentials](/assets/artwork/1x1.gif)
After the breakup of his C86-era band McCarthy, guitarist Tim Gane formed Stereolab in 1992 with his then-girlfriend, singer Laetitia Sadier. With a retro-futuristic visual sense, pointedly socio-political lyrics, and a musical aesthetic inspired equally by krautrock, yé-yé and vintage soundtracks, Stereolab was an immediate indie sensation. After defining their early sound on albums like Peng! and the Switched-On series of singles anthologies, later albums introduced a gentler sound influenced by bossa nova, Tropicalia and minimalism.