Ladytron : Releases >>
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Velocifero >>
Four albums in, and it's quite clear that Liverpool's Ladytron are not susceptible to the dancefloor's flightier urges. Like its predecessors, Velocifero is electro-pop to the core, a sparking circuit of cold emotions and enveloping synths that despite its remove--or perhaps because of it--feels the perfect vehicle for some genuinely affecting pop songs. Boasting additional production work from Nine Inch Nails' Alessandro Cortini and Vicarious Bliss of notorious Parisian imprint Ed Banger, there is a certain robust quality of sound here: "Black Cat", sung by Mira Aroyo in her native Bulgarian, commences with booming drums and big black smears of synthesiser. But there are signs of a certain playfulness, too. "Ghosts" rides a lolloping glam beat that positions it in the area of Goldfrapp's Black Cherry, Helena Marnie's cool, mysterious vocal recalling Stereolab's Laetitia Sadler in its veiled promise: "There's a ghost in me/who wants to say I'm sorry/doesn't mean I'm sorry". The Aroyo-sung "Kletva", meanwhile, is a cover of the theme from an old Bulgarian children's TV program, performed with an uncharacteristic jaunt that, while relatively alien to Ladytron, actually works rather nicely.--Louis Pattison
Witching Hour >>
SERENELY BEAUTIFUL AT TIMES AND NOISY AND DISTURBING AT OTHERS; LIKE ALL THE BEST RECORDS SHOULD BE. The Electro-Clash pioneers return with their stunning new album! In pop folklore, bands were allowed three LPs to become themselves, yet the fabled third album is an increasing rarity in this low-attention span era. It comes as a rare treat to find that Liverpool-based boy / girl four-piece Ladytron have reached this mythical milestone with 'Witching Hour,' their best album yet, and one that fizzes and sparks with the band's own idiosyncratic charms.
'Witching Hour' is an album that reaches further than its predecessors: warm and dense, there is a feeling of susceptible magic wrapped within its thirteen tracks. Ladytron just fulfilled their potential. Prepare to fall in love with them all over again.
Light & Magic >>
604 >>
Light & Magic >>
Second album from Ladytron, the follow-up to their debut 604, an album that sneaked out of Liverpool and quietly crept up on people everywhere-from London to Los Angeles-to become one of the most critically acclaimed and influential records of recent years. This album outshines their debut, but still keeps their killer pop instinct intact on tracks like 'Bluejeans' & 'Evil'. Emperor Norton Records. 2002.
Extended Play >>
604 >>
Is this what we once imagined the future would sound like? On 604 Liverpool-based synth-pop collective Ladytron show all the electronic hallmarks of 1980, only without the "New Dawn of Technology" neurosis. Remember in those days how man feared the totalitarian march of the machine? How we worried that our friends might be electric? That our minds might be toys? That video would kill the radio star? That human labor would be redundant and we'd all be reduced to a Mao-suited existence in some morose metropolis? OK, so 604 does contain a few Marxist nursery rhymes (sung by stern Bulgarian female vocalist Mira Aroyo) but it also contains a version of the theme tune to '70s sit-com "Are You Being Served" (sung sweetly by the kittenish "Bond girl" voice of Helen Marnie). Ladytron's inspired, accessible electro-pop is where latter-day, Tarwater-style Krautrock meets the melodic appeal of the Human League, the Pet Shop Boys and Abba, with just a little bit of the sociosexual commentary of Black Box Recorder thrown in for good measure. Gary Numan was never as much fun as this. --Kevin Maidment
Softcore Jukebox >>
This follow-up to their critically acclaimed self-titled debut (2000) features a veritable new wave rock party hosted by Ladytron featuring their punked up version of Tweet's 'Oops (Oh My)' plus a DJ mix of influences including Barbie & The Kens, CJ Bolland, The Fall, Wire, My Bloody Valentine and more. 18 tracks. Emperor Norton. 2003.