by Raymond Knott
Few bands have been able to achieve the widespread acclaim and notoriety that Ladytron enjoys while simultaneously managing to avoid the watering down that comes with attaining huge commercial success. Touring with such a varied lineup, including Brian Eno, Nine Inch Nails, The Presets, Simian, Franz Ferdinand, and The Faint, even doing production work for Christina Aguilera, it’s hard to ignore their versatility and talent. With the release of a Best of compilation this summer, their fifth album dropping this month, and a headlining slot at De Luna Fest, it would seem that it’s as good a time as any to check out this trendsetting electronic behemoth.
Ladytron was formed in 1999, in Liverpool, England, with Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu (Ladytron minus the ladies) recording and releasing the single “He Took Her to a Movie,” which would become NME’s single of the week. The summer of that year, Helen Marnie and Mira Aroyo would be brought into the band, becoming the front-women for the band. Two EPs were released: Miss Black and Her Friends (A Japanese only release) and Mu-Tron. Their first full length album would not come until 2001, 604. This was a period when Electroclash was on the rise, and while Ladytron attempted to distance themselves from this tag, it proved inevitable that they would be lumped in. As Electroclash rose and fell, though, Ladytron showed they had the staying power to escape the “buzzword black hole” and establish their own ethereal sound more thoroughly in the music world.
On their second album, Light and Magic, Ladytron avoided the sophomore slump and instead managed to fully come into their own with a darker, more fleshed out sound. The single “Seventeen” would make it into the Party Monster soundtrack, giving moviegoers exposure, while the other singles on the album enjoyed reasonable circulation in the electronic community.
Their third and fourth albums, Witching Hour, and Velocifero enjoyed more popularity still, and it seems that their fifth release, Gravity The Seducer will be an even bigger hit. Claiming to be going for a more cohesive sound, Gravity the seducer’s headliner single has definitely piqued my interest. “White Elephant” captures the same dark atmospheric sound the band has been known for with, with lyrics to match. “Surrender with me, we’re walking in our sleep,” it paints a haunting picture of what to expect from Gravity the seducer.
Gravity The Seducer will be out September 13th via Nettwerk, with Ladytron hitting the Gulf Coast for De Luna Fest October 14-16th, make sure to grab your tickets and check them out.