Stereolab have always done things a little bit differently. Since forming in 1990, Stereolab have been labeled as ‘post-rock’ or ‘krautrock’ for their fantastic ability to take 1960s lounge music, give it a twist, and make it cool again. Virtually all the songs on Fab Four Suture, the 13th album from Stereolab sound vintage but modern and trendy at the same time.

Stereolab have an interesting way of constructing their music. Vocalist and writer Laetitia Sadier, for instance, sings in an extremely serious tone, speaking of wars, governments and being genuine, honest human beings. However, the lyrics and meanings of the songs slip and slide over the beats and rhythms that only Stereolab can deliver. From my Stereolab experiences, they offer several musical experiences. You can either groove along to the relatively funky beats, or plant your ear near the speaker to hear the points that Sadier has to make. This method of constructing songs would be a disaster to a group lacking experience, but in the hands of musicians with great talent, it can be a winner. Luckily, for an over-whelming majority of this album Stereolab pull it off – which isn't surprising, given that they have made quite a successful career of pulling it off in the past.

Stereolab are extremely well known for their uses of synthesizers and other vintage instruments, and if you're a fan of this, Fab Four Suture doesn’t fail to deliver, featuring a museum's worth of old Moogs and lots and lots of instruments laid over one another. Stereolab do an amazing job of creating musical textures that are colourful and bursting with life, if you ignore the lyrics of course. The synthesizers, guitars and horns whirl and twirl through a colourful, bouncing carnival. However, it seems like Stereolab want to cover every possible genre and texture and on a few tracks, such as I Was A Sunny Rain Phrase, the song will just break into a completely new sound midway through the song.

From the opener Kyberneticka Babicka, Fab Four Suture reminds me of an old 1960s lounge party in Germany somewhere – with people in suits grooving away in a nuclear bomb shelter. Kyberneticka Babicka rolls on and on with ‘Lahs’ and ‘Oohs’ echoing over a very new-wave group of sounds. Visionary Road Map sounds like some 80s new-wave pop and Vodika is a delightful, poppy little ditty that would be fantastic cranked up nice and loud on a beautiful spring day.

Fab Four Suture has a full-on, complex and robust construction about it. There is a fantastic vibe about the album, from the pictures that the music paints in your head, to the words of wisdom that Sadier speaks. However, patience is the key with Fab Four Suture, as it may take a few listens before realizing what the fuss is about. It's worth it though.