Ladytron
Ladytron's doom-laden arrangements feel as accomplished as Radiohead jamming with the Pet Shop Boys. BLENDER
And thats just for starters, as I havent even begun to touch on the other important part yet their crisp, chilly and crystalline electropop, with a dark edge and slick polished sheen. Which has rainfalls of processed / pneumatic beats, Teutonic Krautrock motorik rhythms, sparks of treated effects, programmed loops, spiralling synthetic samples, embers of effulgent guitars and galvanised metallic bass. All incased in a shiny cybernetic shell, with the simmering, sexy and sparkling signature vocals shared between dual singers, Helen and Mira (who also sings in her native tongue). Automaton and euphonious voices that are complete opposites, yet as if by magic, gel seamlessly together. Be it Helens sweet velvety purr, gliding and caressing your ears with ghostly emotion, or Miras vampish exotic tones, writhing with icy-detachment and dripping with sensuousness. Perhaps this is because every single word and every single breath, is bolted to luxurious and immaculate songs that sound like theyve fallen from the sky. Which when allied with the groups enigmatic / oblique lyrics, could be summarised as an alchemic extraction of beauty from technology or what Mira once spiritedly coined as, Electro with a fist! At its core then, Ladytrons clean, smart, methodical and streamlined retro-futuristic music, cuts both a resplendent and wistful path, and is fundamentally programmed electronica with a human touch, thats festooned with blips + bleeps and emanates a wintry wonder, clandestine romance and vitality, rocketed by the bands zeal and commitment to craftsmanship. Four tantalising albums are currently available for your delectation 604 (2000), Light & Magic (2002), Witching Hour (2004) and Velocifero (2007), along with one DJ mix compilation, Softcore Jukebox (2003). Sterling bodies of work, whose spectrum of sound, elegant precision and vapour trails, will quicken your pulse, evoke shivers of pleasure and enrich your life! So far, each consecutive release hasnt merely been a continuation of the previous LP, it has been a quantum leap record thats raised the bar, with the group swiftly progressing and growing by focusing on a balance between pop structures and digitally-edited analogue electronic sound, with experimental leanings. Which at this moment in time, has blossomed into a much fleshier, full-blooded, souped-up and robust whole, thats firing on all cylinders! Adding to this eclectic nature and multifarious output, is the fact that each band member now brings his or her own individual musical piquancy to the table; Weve gotten to know each others strengths a lot better, Mira once reflected on Ladytrons pool of talent and their close, co-operative relationship. In this sense, with arrangements, instrumentation, complex circuitry, musical compounds and detail to the Nth degree, that can be pored over, Ladytron can rightly be classed as maestros, scrupulous technicians, modern architects and premier purveyors of glacial sonic washes the heavyweight template or omnipresent bedrock of their sound. As they persistently squeeze phenomenal and innovative creative juices from their hearts and minds. In turn, transferring their inspiration / ideas to synthesisers and producing coruscating tracks, that provide vantage points from which to see how far they could possibly go! And on repeated listens, individually disrobe their multi-layered splendour along with a collision of nifty noises that will leave you smitten. A fact not lost on other musicians or club promoters, as exclusive Ladytron remixes and DJ sets are highly-coveted! Thankfully, the groups latest long player, Velocifero, has been their most successful to date helping elevate their status by delighting the faithful and crucially, picking up new fans. And after taking a well-deserved break following the completion of their lengthy 2008 tour + writing songs with Christina Aguilera at her LA home, for the divas forthcoming album. Helen has very kindly filled in an Exclusive Questionnaire for R*E*P*E*A*T, as Ladytron prepare for a new 3 month tour of the USA and Europe where they will also be supporting the legendary Depeche Mode on some dates! They have even been personally invited by Brian Eno (one of their biggest musical heroes) to perform at the Sydney Opera House in June, as part of his curation there! So, by continuing to fuse intrigue with accessibility,
many more people are now beginning to wake up to the sound of Ladytron,
discovering that they are utterly beguiling and endlessly fascinating,
with music that lingers long past listening. And as a meritorious band
who need to be seen, heard + felt, and who have their own vision of
success, I predict that Planet Earth will soon be witnessing the rise
of the robots
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1.Growing up, what was your biggest source for discovering new music,
and can you remember the first press coverage, radio airplay or TV exposure
that Ladytron ever had?
A very special thanks to Helen, to Ladytrons Management Tim + Charla, and to James @ Pomona, for all of their time and help.
Black Cat
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