Stereolab

Stereolab have their indie lounge pop elements lined up just right here. Opening with the chirpy pop progressions of "Neon Beanbag," Chemical Chords eases along through cha-cha-cha-worthy rhythms, elaborate electro tweaks, Laetitia Sadier's high Parisian shrills and Sean O'Hagan's victorious brass and string arrangements. When the tunes get perky and upbeat, they are finely tuned for a chic night out on the town; when they turn terse and ominous ("One Finger Symphony), they are polished for a caution-around-every-corner film noir.