Essentially the final nail in the much loved indie band’s coffin, Not Music was recorded at the same time as ‘08’s Chemical Chords before they decided to go on an indefinite hiatus and it serves as a bit of an epitaph in many ways. Don’t be expecting a maudlin collection of tunes to soundtrack Stereolab shuffling off this mortal coil though. Hell, the 13 track album doesn’t is anything but jaded or lifeless – a fate that afflicts many bands’ last records. In fact, it’s one of the Lab’s better offerings with ‘Supah Jaianto’ and ‘Neon Beanbag [Atlas Sound Mix]’ in particular finding the outfit at the height of their powers: unlike their other 90s indie contemporaries, they will actually be missed. R.I.P.
Key track: ‘Neon Beanbag [Atlas Sound Mix]’