"Socialisme ou Barbarie" is the delightful debut album from Monade. Monade, if you haven't heard, is the nom de plume of Laetitia Sadier when she isn't fronting Stereolab with her singing, Moog, tambourine and, of late, trombone playing. The relatively spare arrangements of "Socialisme ou Barbarie" create a mood slightly more tranquil than Stereolab sounds of late, bringing to mind not only the Peng! era but also folky sounds not always associated with Laetitia's music up to this time. The setting allows for the beauty and simplicity of Monade's songs to shine through. In short, "Socialisme ou Barbarie" is perfect for bedroom reading. Or any space you please.