Electronica quartet Ladytron makes dark, stylish synth-pop that recalls Depeche Mode, the Human League, and Berlin. With its churning electro-scapes and flatly intoned female vocals, Ladytron's music might be too pat if it weren't for their fine melodies and sense of popcraft. Luckily, VELOCIFERO, the band's fourth full-length CD, has enough of these qualities to make it one of the band's most confident efforts.
Opener "Black Cat" creeps and surges in an irresistible way, while "I'm Not Scared" soars ahead like a train to some shadowy, ominous land. The sense of cold alienation perhaps inherent in Ladrytron's initial approach is finally balanced by this overall melodic sense, reinforcing the band's status as true heirs to 1980s commercial synth-pop.
Professional Reviews
Alternative Press (p.174) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Whether they are dabbling in Bulgarian chamber-pop with 'Kletva' or funking shit up for the death-disco detonator 'Deep Blue,' Ladytron suddenly sound every bit as awesomely eclectic as, well, SOFTCORE JUKEBOX."
Magnet (p.107) - "[T]here's no mistaking the songwriting craft that's always set Ladytron apart from its plastic contemporaries, and the melodies here might be the band's strongest yet."
CMJ - "There's instantly more energy and bam in the robot rockin here. The electro riffs and drums bounce around faster..."
Blender (Magazine) (p.73) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "'Black Cat' has hypnotic keyboard drones, heavy rock percussion and psychedelic guitar drowned in echo and reverb, as ARoyo sings surreal poetry..."
Paste (magazine) (p.68) - "Never before has Ladytron sounded so sinister, been so danceable and connected so well with its audience."
Clash (magazine) (p.128) - "Their expert use of classic analogue synths only adds to their unique, retro futurist sound."
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