Laetitia Sadier Makes The Trip

Laetitia Sadier, former vocalist of the legendary Stereolab and the mighty Monade, has finally taken the time to sit down and write, record, and release her very first solo record. And while it's hard at times to separate the differences between her lengthy Stereolab discography from many of the songs here, The Trip is still an amazing listen of indie pop as only she could write. Inspired in part by the death of her sister, the albums title and music is a homage to her loss and life's often winding trip. On the surface this might sound like an intensely depressing record but in typical Laetitia Sadier style, she disguises it all in an effervescent manner. I've always been impressed with how Laetitia could take serious subject matter and make it catchy and she carries on that tradition here as The Trip is fantastically light.

Breezy, personal, and lush much of The Trip sounds like swinging bachelor pad music updated and then updated once again. While several of the songs here are a bit more subdued than others, the album still sounds as if it arrived on a whisper of a breeze that gently makes its presence known. This record is so unobtrusive that The Trip is probably the most minimal sounding thing I've ever heard her sing on and yet the songs are still like gentle sighs that are lush and sweeping and more than welcome. The Trip is truly impressive stuff that's filled with absolutely stunning songwriting; minimal or not. While it truly is difficult to get over the Stereolab comparisons it really doesn't matter because both this record and her entire discography with the 'Lab and Moade have been consistently good.

The Trip is an expressive lush record that's far more complex than it ever lets on. From her French language songs to her minimal explorations, The Trip never disappoints and well, it shouldn't. After two decades of being in one of the greatest indie bands on the planet, Laetitia Sadier should know how to write a pretty decent tune and she does on The Trip. Finally given the freedom to write how she wants, Laetitia has embraced that and written something far more personal than anything she's written in the past. In addition, it seems as though the whole process of The Trip has been cathartic and liberating and like something she needed to do. I for one am glad she did it and I hope she continues to produce records of this quality. Laetitia it's nice to have you back!