My Collection swallowed this released whole because it felt compelled to. It controls me, you know; I just try to satisfy its bi-weekly urges and desires. Sometimes it’s tough …
This exquisitely packaged 12″ (check out the photo, this LP is a work of art) is one of the best-designed items I’ve ever seen from the Vinyl Gods, but it doesn’t house the fuzzy, heavy, punk-driven rock I remember The Je Ne Sais Quoi for (for an example of THAT, listen to the MP3 posted over there —>). Making Love With Time is, in a word, mediocre and derivative.
Stereolab are absolutely butchered alive by “I Read the Signs” — their guts are all over the place, and it’s as tough to listen as it is to watch. I’m not sure if this song is in tune, either.
I can see why The Quoi decided to retool their sound at some point. Whatever they’re doing here, with the piano-bass arrangements and little else, is faultier than a ride at the County Fair operated by a drunk divorcee.
They they go all electro-dip on that shit, crowding “Rhythm) Eester Benny mix” with flip-flopping effects that zoom around without any real purpose. Extra layers of fake drums don’t help matters any.
And I ask again: What the FUCK-ALL happened to this band? Could make quite the interesting story line, actually … maybe I’ll find out someday and tell y’all.
Until then I have this beautiful slab of translucent (overlaid by green on Side B) wax to get me through. It could be worse, I suppose …
