Ladytron

[Chaky]

I don't think Black Cat is a single, it's just a teaser for the album. But it is available to download free from their official website:

[URL="http://www.ladytron.com/Ladytron-BlackCat.mp3"]Black Cat mp3
[/URL]

 

[Scott]

i dunno,they haven't really elaborated on the info....i just assumed.

the cover art for the album is BRILLIANT! no? i love it

 

[Chaky]

Yeah it's very cool cover art. B)

I wonder if they'll do a limited edition version again with a DVD in it.

 

[adams7]

They certainly have an active appearance calendar, huge amount of travel.

I first found about them 5 or 6 years ago from the video "Seventeen" which was really unique in sound and appearance. They still are uncopied in style, I'd classify them as electro-pop.

Compare that to the electro-house music style which has hundreds of new tracks released every week for the last few years and most of it has been so so generic and boring right from the start, I don't know why it's so popular.

 

[Scott]

^agreed.

 

[mademoiselle_]

I want it I want it !!

 

[Scott]

cannot wait! the first single is 'Ghosts' and is brilliant! i just heard 'i'm not scared' on youtube and it's really great as well.

judging by these three songs,it seems it has the haunting atmospheres as witching hour did but the play on rock elements is slightly more emphasised. like the sound of weekend.

 

[Chaky]

The excellent Fluxblog has a nice little sampler of Ghosts, the second track from the new album, for those who haven't yet heard it. Get it while it's hot!

 

[snowqueen]

seen them on tuesday in my city.. boss.. fab night they were great first time seeing them live in ages and it was well worth the wait

 

[Scott]

the new album has been released on itunes as a pre-release,you guys. i didn't purchase as i have my cd album pre-ordered from insound but i had been listening to the songs on their myspace and i think it sounds stunning! the entire album is so strong. i am going to have tough time choosing a top album for 2008 because its looking like a three-way tie at this juncture..haha

 

[valerique]

One of the women is from eastern Europe.

And yes,the girl with the really short hair...she's from Budapest.

No, she is from Bulgaria, I don't know which city though.

About their style, in an interview a few years ago they say they prefer to wear uniforms so when they look back at themselves years from now, they wouldn't be embarrassed by their fashion.

I saw them live last September at PStereo and they all wore black, the girls wore really pretty dresses, esp Helen. And they were really really good.

View attachment 374331
my own pic

 

[Scott]

^sofia....they even have a tune as an ode to the capital

 

[Chaky]

I've been listening to the new album constantly. I love it. Singing duties seem to be more evenly spread and Mira's songs are stronger than on Witching Hour.

Here's the vid for Ghosts:

 

[Scott]

it's been on heavy rotation for me as well

i agree with you about mira. i adore kletva and deep blue.

love that vid. i watched it a couple weeks ago and was taken aback by the visuals and it really suits that song.

has anybody indentified the male vocals on versus? i was thinking that it was mayber one of the guys in the band,vicarious bliss who assisted the production or perhaps even a distorted mira or helen like karin in the knife.....but it's bewildered me as i know ladytron has never had male vocals.

 

[Chaky]

has anybody indentified the male vocals on versus?

It's Daniel singing. I think it's the first time the male vocals have been upfront in a Ladytron track. One of the search tags for this song on last.fm says "male vocals in ladytron wtf".

Check out this: Interview with Helen Marnie

 

[Scott]

haha! my thoughts precisely.

fab interview......i have such a soft spot for helen. loved what she said about never going mainstream,her assessment of why they're still so beloved,which i think is partly true. but she did lest to forget another reason though.....the main reason....they just continue to make effin amazing songs each album! of course,i don't think she has that kind of ego

 

[Scott]

here's a short but sweet i'view with rueben-

On June 2nd, excellent Liverpool electro-pop quartet Ladytron return with their fourth album Velocifero, but before that they're playing five dates across the UK. I spoke to keyboardist Reuben Wu.

Dazed Digital: Why did you choose to cover "Kletva", a song from a 1970s children's film?
Reuben Wu: [Vocalist] Mira [Aroyo] introduced that song to us - I think it's a beautiful track. Probably the only major key song we have ever played! It's an old Bulgarian song that is quite popular in Mira's home country

DD: Are there any other specific influences or themes we should be listening out for on the new album?
RW: Nothing specific in terms of influences, although I was listening to a lot Goblin and Pink Floyd while we were working on demos.

DD: You worked with Vicarious Bliss on the album. How much affinity do you feel with the Paris electro scene?
RW: It's nice to hear dance music which is dirty and has texture. It was obvious that something like this was going to happen, branching out from Daft Punk and all that. Electronics plus overdrive equals great. I also really like the way Justice can display their Christianity so openly.

DD: How did you get together with Assume Vivid Astrofocus, who created the album artwork and suggested the title?
RW: Eli Sudbrack came to Liverpool to do an installation in the Tate Gallery, an amazing roomful of psychedelic colour. It reminds me of a high definition version of Kandinsky. He asked us to play a short set inside the installation. It was amazing, with a real sixties vibe to it. The bass from the keyboards caused some ducting to fall onto one of the audience though. Blood everywhere. He was okay.

DD: What's your stage show going to be like on this tour?
Better than last time. We have some new toys to play with!

DD: A few years ago you DJed at my student union. Bookings like that must be weird change from touring the world?
RW: No, I love it all, bring it on..

http://www.dazeddigital.com/incoming/ladytron-return-with-velocifero/

 

[Chaky]

Kletva - their only major key song! Love it.

And the Tate thing sounds fantastic. Apart from bass-induced ducting injuries that is.

 

[Scott]

^it is though,actually...if you really think about it back to 604. it is perhaps the most traditionally-structured tune they have done.

and don't you love that he pointed out a slight distaste for the daft punk era?! i almost started applauding very loudly when i read that. it's great hearing an electronic artist finally speak out about the sameness that sound has become. and the texture aspects....exactly the reason i adore ladytron....they're music has so much texture.

 

[Chaky]

Is he really taking a shot at them? I took it as meaning that Daft Punk were the originators and others on the French electro scene (Ed Banger records at the forefront) have evolved from there in a way that Reuben likes, i.e. a dirtier, more textural sound. I was never a huge Daft Punk fan (too much vocoder) but I think artists like SebastiAn and Justice are making some great music and the production on their tracks is fantastic.

I think this development is very apparent in Ladytron's own music. By Helen's admission they've filled out their sound because they want to make music that will get the best response in a live setting.