| Ladytron | |
|---|---|
Ladytron in Mexico in 2011. From left to right: Helen Marnie, Mira Aroyo, Daniel Hunt, Reuben Wu. |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Liverpool, Merseyside, England |
| Genres | Electronic, Electropop, New Wave |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Invicta Hi-Fi, Emperor Norton, Telstar, Rykodisc, Island, Nettwerk |
| Website | www.ladytron.com |
| Members | |
| Helen Marnie Mira Aroyo Daniel Hunt Reuben Wu |
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Ladytron are an British electronic band from Liverpool, Merseyside, formed in 1999.[1] The band consists of Helen Marnie (lead vocals, synthesizers), Mira Aroyo (vocals, synthesizers), Daniel Hunt (synthesizers, electric guitar, vocals) and Reuben Wu (synthesizers).[2]
Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop".[3] They focused on a balance between pop structures and experimental sounds. Some of the group's songs performed by Aroyo contain lyrics written in her native Bulgarian.
They have released five studio albums so far: 604 (2001), Light & Magic (2002), Witching Hour (2005), Velocifero (2008) and Gravity the Seducer (2011).
Their name was taken from the song "Ladytron" by Roxy Music.[4] According to Brian Eno, once a member of Roxy Music, Ladytron are "the best of English pop music".[5]
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Liverpudlian producers and DJs Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu met in the 1990s. Using the moniker Ladytron, they recorded the debut single "He Took Her to a Movie" with the guest vocalist Lisa Eriksson, who later formed the band Techno Squirrels.[6][7] "He Took Her to a Movie" was released in 1999 and became NME Single of the Week.[8] In the summer of 1999, Hunt and Wu met Scottish Helen Marnie and Bulgarian Mira Aroyo, through various DJ gigs, and both joined the band as vocalists and keyboardists.[9][10]
Previously, Daniel Hunt founded the indie record label Invicta Hi-Fi and a nightclub.[11] Reuben Wu trained in Industrial Design at Sheffield Hallam University, before becoming a successful designer in a consultancy until finally going full time with the band.[12] Helen Marnie studied music at the University of Liverpool where she received a Bachelor of Arts in pop music.[13] Mira Aroyo was a postgraduate research geneticist in the Oxford University's Biochemistry department.[10]
In 1999, Ladytron issued the EP Miss Black and Her Friends in Japan only, followed a year later by Mu-Tron EP.
In 6 February 2001, they released the debut album 604 on the Emperor Norton/Invicta Hi-Fi labels. The album has been written mostly by Daniel Hunt[14] and co-produced by him and Lance Thomas. The singles released from this album were "He Took Her to a Movie", "Playgirl", "Commodore Rock" and "The Way That I Found You". The single "Playgirl" brought some national and international attention to the band.
During the early years, they were sometimes labeled as electroclash, but they rejected this tag.[9][15]
| “ | We felt being compared to the day-glo trash-aesthetic of electroclash didn't make any sense. We were wise enough to know that being positioned by the press at the forefront of it, despite our protestations, would mean we bore the brunt of the backlash when it inevitably came. However, that happened anyway, and we survived." | ” |
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—Daniel Hunt[9] |
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In 2001, Ladytron performed at the music festivals La Route du Rock in France and Benicàssim in Spain. In 5 December 2001, they performed four songs for Radio 1's John Peel Show: "Zmeyka", "Holiday 601", "Another Breakfast With You", "Discotraxx".[16]
Their second album Light & Magic was released in 17 September 2002 on Emperor Norton/Telstar labels. The album featured a darker sound than their previous albums. It was written and produced in Los Angeles by the band and co-produced by Mickey Petralia.[17] Light & Magic included the underground hits "Seventeen", "Blue Jeans" and "Evil".
They toured 18 months to support the album. On 4 December 2002, Ladytron returned to John Peel Show.[18]
In 7 October 2003, they issued the mix compilation Softcore Jukebox. Besides the songs of other artists, the compilation also includes two of their own songs, the single remix of "Blue Jeans" renamed "Blue Jeans 2.0" and a cover of Tweet's "Oops (Oh My)". The cover art appears to be a homage to Roxy Music's Country Life.[19]
Ladytron released their critically acclaimed[20] third studio album, Witching Hour, in 3 October 2005 on Island label. This album was recorded in 2004 and it was co-produced by the band and Jim Abbiss. Witching Hour featured live drums by Keith York and electric guitars mixed with their trademark sound. Pitchfork Media described it as a "quantum leap record".[21] Witching Hour was supported by the singles "Sugar" and "Destroy Everything You Touch". "Destroy Everything You Touch" became the band's best known song.
The group took to the road on the strength of their cult following, booking sold-out tours across North America and Europe, and playing for capacity crowds in China and Latin America.[22] Without any real label support, Ladytron toured exhaustively over the next two years. In early 2007, they also opened for the European shows of Nine Inch Nails, at the invitation of Trent Reznor.[23]
In 2006 saw the light Extended Play, a two-disc EP CD/DVD compilation that features exclusive unreleased remixes and UK B-sides, as well as a 35-minute bonus DVD. In the same year Ladytron recorded The Harmonium Sessions, which contained four songs from their third studio album, performed unplugged.
In 2 June 2008, Ladytron released their fourth and most successful album, Velocifero, on Nettwerk. The album featured a heavier sound and it was recorded in Paris, with the band handling production duties with Alessandro Cortini (Modwheelmood, Nine Inch Nails, SONOIO) and Vicarious Bliss (Justice, DJ Mehdi).[24] The band stated that "velocifero" literally means "bringer of speed" and is also the name of a classic retro styled scooter.[25] The album spawned three singles: "Ghosts", "Runaway" and "Tomorrow".
In 2009, Ladytron toured North America with The Faint,[26] and performed two special shows with Brian Eno at the Sydney Opera House.[27] In the same year they announced that they will be the opening act for Depeche Mode on few concerts in Eastern Europe,[28] but these concerts were cancelled due to Dave Gahan's illness.
Also in 2009, the band self released their first live album Live at London Astoria 16.07.08 and the remix compilations 604 (Remixed & Rare), Light & Magic (Remixed & Rare), Witching Hour (Remixed & Rare) and Velocifero (Remixed & Rare). They also wrote and produced two songs for Christina Aguilera's album Bionic: "Birds of Prey" and "Little Dreamer".
The soundtrack of the video game FIFA 11 included a new Ladytron song, "Ace of Hz", which was released as digital single on 30 November 2010. In 11 January 2011, the band issued a digital EP of "Ace of Hz", which contained the album mix plus 5 remixes.
In 28 March 2011, it was released the compilation Best of 00–10, featuring 17 tracks on standard edition and 33 tracks on deluxe edition, plus a 80 page booklet. Both editions included two new tracks, "Ace of Hz" and a cover version of Death In June's "Little Black Angel".[29]
Ladytron also issued the remix compilation Best of Remixes and the iTunes video compilation Best of 00–10 Videos. The video compilation featured nine music videos for the singles "Playgirl", "Blue Jeans", "Seventeen", "Sugar", "Destroy Everything You Touch", "Ghosts", "Runaway", "Tomorrow" and "Ace of Hz".[30]
During April 2011 and July 2011, Ladytron performed live in Austria, China, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Poland, UK, Ireland, Hungary and Spain.[31]
Their fifth studio album, Gravity the Seducer, was released in the United Kingdom on 12 September 2011 and in the United States on 13 September 2011. The album was recorded in Kent's countryside and it was produced by the band and Barny Barnicott (Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Editors).[32] Daniel Hunt said "Gravity the Seducer is more of a jump than the last album was, more ethereal and melodic, a touch more abstract in places than we've gone before, baroque 'n' roll".[32]
"Ace of Hz", which appears on the album, was previously released as a single from the band's greatest hits compilation Best of 00–10. The first single from Gravity the Seducer, "White Elephant", was issued on 17 May 2011 and its accompanying video was posted on YouTube on 26 July 2011. The band premiered another song, "Ambulances", in 16 June 2011. The second single, "Mirage", was released on 8 August 2011. Its music video was posted on YouTube on 11 November 2011.
During September 2011 and December 2011, the band toured in USA, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Thailand[31] and Indonesia. For the concerts in North America, Ladytron were supported by SONOIO, VHS or Beta and Geographer.
Ladytron will contribute music to Occupy This Album: A Compilation of Music By, For and Inspired by the Occupy Wall Street Movement and the 99%, set for release Winter 2011-2012.[33]
Ladytron has a large cult following worldwide,[2][34] and have toured extensively since the release of their second album, Light & Magic. Daniel Hunt, Mira Aroyo and Reuben Wu also play DJ sets in clubs and events around the world.[10]
Bands to open for Ladytron on their tours include Simian, The Presets, CSS, Asobi Seksu, Mount Sims, Crocodiles, Franz Ferdinand, SONOIO, VHS or Beta and Geographer.
Ladytron have opened for other artists like Soulwax on their UK tour in 2001, Björk in 2003, and Goldfrapp in 2006. In early 2007, they opened for Nine Inch Nails on their European tour, at the invitation of Trent Reznor. In 2009, Ladytron and The Faint co-headlined a North American tour.
Their current live gear consists of Korg Delta played by Helen Marnie, Korg MS-20 played by Mira Aroyo, Minimoog Voyager played by Reuben Wu, Crumar Stratus played by Daniel Hunt and a drum kit played by a tour drummer.
Ladytron have produced remixes for many artists, including David Gahan, Goldfrapp, Apoptygma Berzerk, Placebo, Blondie, Bonde do Rolê, Gang of Four, Natalia Kills, Bloc Party, Kings of Convenience, Indochine, She Wants Revenge, Simian, Nine Inch Nails, SONOIO and Soulwax.
Many Ladytron songs featured on various film, game and ad soundtracks.[35] For the Sims 3 game soundtrack, the group composed three exclusive tracks: "Rockfalls & Estuaries", "She Stepped Out of the Car" and "Young Etruscians".[36]
| Song | Year | Production | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Ace of Hz" | 2010 | FIFA 11 | game |
| "Burning Up" | 2008 | Fringe | tv series |
| "Destroy Everything You Touch" | 2006 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | game |
| 2007 | Smiley Face | film | |
| 2008 | One Missed Call | film | |
| 2009 | Mammoth | film | |
| 2009 | The September Issue | film | |
| "Discotraxx" | 2005 | Balls of Steel | tv series |
| 2008 | Plague Town | film | |
| "Fighting in Built Up Areas" | 2006 | Need For Speed: Carbon | game |
| "Ghosts" | 2008 | Need For Speed: Undercover | game |
| 2009 | The Sims 3 | game | |
| 2011 | LittleBigPlanet 2 | game | |
| "International Dateline" | 2009 | Mammoth | film |
| "Mu-Tron" | 2008 | August | film |
| "Playgirl" | 2001 | Picture Claire | film |
| "Rockfalls & Estuaries" | 2009 | The Sims 3 | game |
| "Runaway" | 2009 | FIFA 09 | game |
| "Seventeen" | 2003 | Party Monster | film |
| 2008 | Inspire fragrance advertising | ad | |
| "She Stepped Out of the Car" | 2009 | The Sims 3 | game |
| "Sugar" (Jagz Kooner Remix) | 2006 | Need For Speed: Carbon | game |
| "Versus" | 2009 | Mammoth | film |
| "Young Etruscians" | 2009 | The Sims 3 | game |
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