Electrelane — Rock It to the Moon (2001)
Reflected on: 2026-02-07
When Influence Becomes Something New
Electrelane’s debut Rock It to the Moon screams Stereolab influence—krautrock organ loops, hypnotic repetition, motorik rhythms—but they made something fiercer, rawer, more visceral.
Where Stereolab are lounge-influenced and dreamy, Electrelane are urgent, angular, confrontational.
Track 1: “The Invisible Dog” — A Dog Barking As Percussion
The album opens with “The Invisible Dog,” and within seconds you know this won’t be conventional.
A dog barking paces the rhythm over churning organ loops—mechanical, hypnotic, relentless. The barking isn’t a gimmick; it’s rhythmic punctuation, testifying to their experimentalism. The organ locks into a repetitive loop that recalls Stereolab’s “French Disko” or Neu!‘s “Hallogallo” but with post-punk aggression.
This track is almost entirely instrumental—Electrelane’s signature. The music itself communicates without words.
Track 4: “Film Music” — Their Career Blueprint
“Film Music” defines what Electrelane would become: motorik drums, interlocking guitar lines, organ drones, and sparse vocals in multiple languages (English, French, German).
The structure is pure Stereolab but the energy is pure post-punk. The motorik rhythm (straight from Neu!/Can) becomes their foundation. Multilingual vocals signal European influences. Angular guitar interplay shows their post-punk lineage (Wire, Gang of Four).
The boldness: Opening with a dog barking over organ loops, then delivering this multilingual krautrock anthem. That’s confidence.
The Three Essential Albums
1. Rock It to the Moon (2001) — The Blueprint
Raw, experimental, almost entirely instrumental. Dog barking, organ loops, motorik rhythms. Establishes the template: krautrock + post-punk + feminist defiance.
Key tracks: “The Invisible Dog,” “Film Music,” “Gabriel”
2. The Power Out (2004) — The Breakthrough
Less experimental, more anthemic. Louder guitars, more prominent vocals. Their most accessible without compromising vision.
Key tracks: “On Parade,” “Birds,” “The Power Out”
3. Axes (2005) — The Expansion
Most ambitious. Adds piano, strings, cinematic production. Proves experimentation and emotional depth aren’t mutually exclusive.
Key tracks: “To the East,” “After the Call,” “In Berlin”
The Stereolab Influence — But More Aggressive
The Stereolab DNA is clear: vintage organs, motorik rhythms, krautrock repetition, European aesthetic, feminist politics.
But Electrelane are distinct:
- Post-punk aggression — Where Stereolab are smooth and cinematic, Electrelane are jagged and urgent
- More instrumental — They abandon vocals entirely, trusting loops and textures to communicate
- Confrontational feminism — All-female band playing aggressive experimental rock, no softening edges
- Ferocious live energy — Less academic precision, more barely-controlled chaos
The Non-Professional Musician Paradox
Despite critical acclaim and three brilliant albums, Electrelane never became full-time professional musicians.
The members’ other lives:
- Verity Susman (organ, vocals) — Trained architect, music educator, installation artist, teaches experimental composition
- Emma Gaze (guitar) — Visual artist, graphic designer, shaped the band’s aesthetic
- Ros Murray (bass) — Arts administration and cultural programming
- Mia Clarke (drums) — Sound engineer, studio production work
Why this matters: Without needing music to pay all bills, they made exactly the music they wanted—no compromises. Their other careers informed the music: Verity’s architecture training shaped their structural precision, Emma’s design shaped their aesthetic. It’s radical: three brilliant albums, critical acclaim, and they still had “other lives.” That’s not failure—it’s a choice.
Why This Matters
An all-female band making aggressive experimental rock without compromise. Opening with a dog barking and daring you to keep listening. Clearly influenced by Stereolab but undeniably original. Proving instrumental rock can be emotionally resonant without lyrics.
The Lineage
Krautrock (Neu!, Can, Faust) → Post-Punk (Wire, Gang of Four, The Slits) → Stereolab → Electrelane (fiercer, rawer, more urgent)
If You Love This
Essential listening:
- Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup
- Neu! - Neu!
- Wire - Pink Flag
- Broadcast - Tender Buttons
Final Thought
Three brilliant albums, critical acclaim, devoted following—then they moved on to architecture, design, teaching. No reunion tours, no recapturing past glory. They made uncompromising work on their own terms and lived their lives.
The dog barking on “The Invisible Dog” is a declaration: We don’t care what you expect. We’re doing this our way.
Listen on Bandcamp: Rock It to the Moon
Discovered through the Stereolab lineage, February 2026 “A dog barking as percussion—of course.”