Home > Los Angeles Music > CD Review > Ladytron, 'Velocifero'

Backstory: As the new century began, Ladytron were mining the electronic and shoegaze stylings of the ‘80s; as it turns out, they were ahead of the fashion curve—or behind it, depending on how you look at it. Their last album, 2005’s “Witching Hour,” showed both a penchant for poppier melodies and the darker sides of electronica; thanks to the latter, they were hand-picked by Trent Reznor as an opener on a recent Nine Inch Nails tour.

Why you should care: Ladytron fills the void for anyone needing a dose of moody beats, retro futurism and robotic female vocals on the dance floor. If you hated the ‘80s and all the synthesizers that came with it, keep a safe distance from the whole thing.

Verdict: Ladytron should make their deepest entry into the mainstream yet with “Velocifero,” especially since they’re finally on a label (Nettwerk) that has the right mix of indie cred and promotional clout. They can still sometimes be cold to a fault; dense and detached dance numbers like “Deep Blue” don’t offer much to latch onto. But there’s plenty of pop prowess on display, most obviously on the standout single “Ghosts.” Singer Helen Marnie is at her best there—compelling and infectious, yet ultimately still gloomy and opaque.
 
X-Factor: If you’re having a hard time making out the words to “Black Cat” and “Kletva,” that’s because they’re sung in Bulgarian. Co-lead vocalist Mira Aroyo is originally from there.

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