Stereolab’s Set Highlights Its Sonic Extremes

Boldly mixing and matching musical elements as far-flung as bossa nova and techno, Muzak and art noise, Stereolab has concocted a distinctly idiosyncratic body of work over the past five years. Yet as intriguing as its sonic experiments can be, the music often feels as cold and methodical as its name suggests. The group’s performance at the sold-out El Rey Theatre on Wednesday night exaggerated both its strengths and weaknesses.

The sextet was most engaging when it locked into a groove, and the more concrete pop structures of songs like “Crest” and “Miss Modular” allowed the musicians to develop dynamics and build momentum. Even some of the monotonous excursions in arty minimalism picked up a little zest from the energy generated between the players. Other numbers, however, were every bit as tedious as their studio incarnations--perhaps even more so because, unlike the average living room or car, the club setting offered few diversions from the band’s snoozy stage presence.

The high and low points of the evening both elapsed during Stereolab’s closing number. Joined by openers Mouse on Mars (a Teutonic duo specializing in vibrant electronic soundscapes), Stereolab pulled out all the stops and “Stomach Worm” got off to a rollicking start. But after a relentless, rambling jam session that dragged on for nearly 20 minutes, what began with a promising bang ended in a protracted fizzle.