Ladytron - Velocifero

Tue 10th Jun, 2008 in Music Reviews

The press release accompanying Ladytron’s fourth album, Velocifero, proudly proclaims that the group were vanguards for the new electronic-rock movement as it began following the release of their debut album, 604. While people may argue about their influence and indeed, who actually came first, one thing is certain: Velocifero- offers another collection of exciting electro-pop/rock songs from these consummate professionals.

The disc is propelled by heavy synth work and vocals that are shared between Mira Aroyo and Helen Marnie. Both voices share an ethereal quality that seems to prophesise and occasionally hint at fragility. The disc opens with what sounds like twinkling starlight put to beat with Black Cat. The lyrics of this song are in Aroyo’s native language, Bulgarian, as is another epic album track, Kletva.

The subsequent song is the new single, Ghosts, a fuzzy romp with a beat similar to Jet during the Get Born record. This is followed by Runaway, which features some heavy synth yet simultaneously evokes the spirit of Del Shannon’s Runaway due to its simplistic and repetitive lyrics.

Conversely, They Gave You A Heart, They Gave You A Name contains the sexy overtones, “Lay down beside me.” The delivery of the vocals conjures up an image of a sultry vixen stroking satin sheets. Predict The Day, by comparison, is something different again. It contains the obligatory dance music but is peppered with whistling, just like The Dissociatives’ Lifting The Veil From The Braille.

The Lovers could indeed be Ladytron stomping about and covering a Yeah Yeah Yeah’s creation, and this is closely followed by Tomorrow, which has “single” stamped all over it. It contains pixie dust and gorgeously elaborate music that immediately wins over the listener. Finally, the release finishes with Verses, an innocent party accompanied by a glorious choir. It is completed with an ending reminiscent of a computer game, informing the player – œGAME OVER’.

The booklet accompanying the release is a contrast of bright pinks and red, and more prosaic white and black. Like the music itself, it is layered with varying elements of the spectrum. And if I had to use one image to summarise the album it would be that of Ladytron skipping and dancing around a gigantic keyboard. Thus the songs are certainly worthy of enthusiastic dance routines. Or for those more inhibited people who would just prefer to simply listen and enjoy, the songs can facilitate this also. In sum – the music is striking, memorable and a sweet aural treat.