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Album Review
by Albrecht Kunstwerk
2-4-2001
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| Ladytron '604' |
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Ladytron: '604'
(Invicta Hi_Fi)
Through the electro looking glass, new Liverpool-based quartet are spied tracing a path to post-millennial elation. Or summat like that...
The late Graham Greene used to distinguish his lesser novels by dubbing them "entertainment." Applying such a formula to today's culture it frequently seems there is hardly anything else. Then once in a while something comes along that actually raises the game by whatever percentage and Ladytron are one such entity tracing us a route out of the craplands.
'604' is an album that successfully fuses industrial, electronic, melodic, tense and innovative sounds in its sonic DNA making it the first complete album -rather than a collection of potential (read -contrived) hit singles -in about 20 years. And the Liverpool-based quartet, with gender-equality on their side, are the antlthesis of whatever is happening on planet pop as we know it, Jim. Coming at us clad all in black, Ladytron exude designer chic for post-millennial elation; crisp and precise electronica is interwoven with the ice-cool vocals of lissome Bulgarian Mira Aroyo and Helen Marnie.
There's a discernable tribute-to-Kraftwerk in their weave and weft, in particular 'The Model'-era sound, but '604' isn't hamstrung by veneration of all things Kraut. Rather, it's a case of past things being dusted down, re-fitted and dragged into the 21st century as verite pan-Eurolands music. There are also nods in the direction of Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, Giorgio Moroder and Blondie. In fact they've already been labelled "cyber-Blondie" and you'll know why when you hear 'Another Breakfast With You', 'Ladybird' and 'Playgirl'... But to their credit, Ladytron are more than just the sum of their influences.
This knockout debut appeals to neophilia, nostalgia (emotional as much as pop-cultural) and love of fantasy in equal measure. You've got to credit a band (brainchild of DJ duo Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu, who launched this project in 1998) that has marbles enough to sample the theme tune to the 1970s TV comedy series 'Are You Being Served?' for 'Paco'. Not even Mr Uber-Pop now, the untouchable Robbie Williams, could pull this one off!
In a recent interview, on the site also, Nick Cave stated that he has "No idea that the state of music has declined so much..." With Ladytron he can nix that concern and it should get him mad because Australians have become such culture terrorists. All comers will be stunned and magnetised by the forcefield around this foursome.
9/10
Albrecht Kunstwerk
15-11-2001
'604 ' by Ladytron is released 2 April on Invicta Hi-Fi
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