Stereolab To Take Break

London's avant pop legends Stereolab have shocked fans by announcing that they are to go on hiatus.

Formed nearly two decades ago, Stereolab have earned massive acclaimed with their experimental brand of rock music. Taking on board Krautrock, exotica, French pop and other influences the band seem to exist in a world of their own.

The group are now signed to Duophonic Super 45s, through which they plan to release their forthcoming album 'Chemical Chords 2'. Stereolab released the original 'Chemical Chords' album last year, and it seems that the forthcoming release will consist of material taken from these sessions.

Stereolab member Tim Gane told US magazine Pitchfork that when the album "was originally going to come out, we had to finish it by the end of December. But now it's been put back, so we're mixing other tracks. The tracks were chosen at random. It will make an interesting kind of sibling or companion to the record. I think we won't release it like a normal record."

Manager Martin Pike posted a new statement on the group's site stating that the band are going to take a break. "We are are all going to have a bit of a rest now after nearly 19 years and work on a few other projects".

The note was titled "Hiatus/Sabbatical/Pause/Intermission/Breather" and also stated "As we recently made #51 with Emperor Tomato Ketchup in the Amazon 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums of all Time we feel that our work is done for the moment."

We just knew that poll would be more trouble than it's worth!