The story goes that the first Mouse album -- a tape the two musicians made for themselves to listen to in the car -- ended up at the offices of Stereolab's Too Pure label; for the past three years, the two bands have collaborated on split records and each other's albums. Stereolab vocalists Laetitia Sadier and Mary Hansen contributed to the Mouse EP Cache Coeur Naif: Sadier wrote the lyrics (yes, lyrics) and sings on three of the four tracks; Hansen sang backup on one. Mouse on Mars paid back the favor by producing half of the Lab's new Dots and Loops (Tortoise's John McEntire recorded the other half).
At the Great American, expect surprisingly ear-pleasing experiments, shaky beats, and ambient sheen. You're free to listen, dance, or contemplate the room's architecture as you see fit.
-- Jill Stauffer
Mouse on Mars open for Stereolab Monday, Nov. 24, at 10 p.m. at the Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell (at Polk). Tickets are $12.50; call 885-5075.
