Instant Holograms on Metal Film

Instant Holograms on Metal Film is the eleventh studio album by Stereolab, released in May 2025 after a fifteen-year hiatus from the studio. Recorded with the band's 2025 touring lineup and featuring a wide array of guest musicians from the experimental and jazz scenes, the album represents a significant milestone in the band's discography. It successfully bridges the gap between their classic 90s 'Groop' sound and a more modern, refined production aesthetic. The songwriting, handled by the core duo of Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier, remains focused on the interplay of repetitive rhythmic structures and complex, often bilingual lyrical themes. Critics from Pitchfork and AllMusic noted the album's remarkable consistency and its ability to sound contemporary while remaining fiercely loyal to the band's vintage hardware-driven roots. The record is characterized by its use of the Vermona F transistor organ and modular synthesis, creating a dense, shimmering sonic environment that reaffirms Stereolab's position as pioneers of the art-pop and post-rock genres.