For other uses, see Ladytron (disambiguation).
| Ladytron |
Performing
in London : Helen and Mira in front with Daniel Hunt and
Reuben Wu behind
|
| Background information |
| Origin |
Liverpool,
England |
| Genre(s) |
Electropop |
| Years active |
1999–present |
| Label(s) |
Rykodisc, Major, Pias, Trama, So
Sweet |
| Website |
www.ladytron.com |
| Members |
Helen
Marnie
Daniel Hunt
Mira
Aroyo
Reuben Wu |
Ladytron are a band formed in Liverpool,
England.
|
Contents
- 1 Background
- 2 Style
- 3 Instrumentation
- 4 Remixing
- 5 Appearance
in popular culture
- 6 Discography
- 6.1 Albums
- 6.2 EPs
and compilations
- 6.3 Singles
- 7 Interviews
- 8 Features
- 9 External
links
- 10 References
|
Background
The band takes their name from the song "Ladytron"
by Roxy
Music (from Roxy Music's eponymous
debut album of 1972).
Ladytron's first track "He Took Her to a Movie" was released in 1999
and featured guest singer Lisa Eriksson of Techno
Squirrels.
Originally, Ladytron were known to perform in monochromatic
outfits of black or olive,
lending an image of simplicity and uniformity to their stage presence.
Since the release of Witching Hour,
the band seems to have abandoned the military chic. They do, however,
appear to maintain a tendency towards all-black.
Style
Ladytron make electronic music, using a
combination of vintage analogue synthesizers to achieve their distinct
sound. Ladytron's lyrics are often obscure, sometimes dominated by
snippets of everyday life, and sometimes written in Bulgarian
by Bulgarian bandmember Mira Aroyo. Albums so far have focused on
a balance between pop structures and analogue electronic sound, along
with some more experimental leanings. Witching
Hour saw an augmentation of their sound,
leading the album to be described by Pitchfork
as a "quantum leap record".[1]
Instrumentation
When playing live, Ladytron use vintage
synthesizers/keyboards, including a Korg MS-10 (played by Wu), an MS-20
(Aroyo), Roland SH-2 (Hunt) as well as four MS-2000Bs
(which are modern digital "analogue modeling" synths), one for each
band member. They have also used Sequential Circuits Pro-One, Korg
Delta, Korg Monopoly and various other synthesizers. According to the
band, each synthesizer has been overdriven or upgraded in some way to
achieve the sound they want. Live, Hunt also plays the guitar on some
songs and the band is supported by their long-time drummer, Keith York
and a bass guitar player, Andrea Goldsworthy.
Remixing
Ladytron have produced remixes for many artists including Placebo, Blondie,
Gang of Four, David
Gahan, Goldfrapp, Bloc
Party, Kings of Convenience, Indochine,
Apoptygma Berzerk, Soulwax, Nine
Inch Nails and Simian.
Mira at a concert in Dallas.
Current Status
After concentrating much of 2006 on the USA and Latin America,
'Witching hour' has finally been released in Europe on the German based
Major Records, with a re-release in the UK imminent on So Sweet.
Ladytron have completed their tour with Nine
Inch Nails in Europe which was done on the personal invitation of Trent
Reznor.
The band are playing a selection of European festival dates and dj
shows over the summer while working on their new album.
Appearance in popular culture
The song "Seventeen" was featured in the
movie Party Monster (2003 film)
and appeared on the soundtrack.
The group is one of the few bands to have embarked on a live
tour of China,
in 2004. This was a project organized by the British
Council and included gigs in the cities of Shenzhen, Chongqing
and Shanghai.
Since then Reuben Wu has returned to play several DJ shows there.
The songs "Fighting In Built Up Areas", and a remix of "Sugar"
are part of the soundtrack of the game Need For Speed: Carbon.
"Destroy Everything You Touch" appears in the EA
soccer game FIFA
06.
"Fighting In Built Up Areas" has also been used as background
music on BBC TV programme "The Real Hustle".
Discography
Albums
- 604 (2001)
- Light & Magic
(2002)
- Witching Hour (2005,
Island/Rykodisc)
UK #81
EPs and compilations
- Miss Black And Her Friends
(1999,
Bambini, Japan only)
- Softcore Jukebox
(2003)
- Extended Play
(2006,
Rykodisc)
Singles
- 1999 "He Took Her to a Movie"
- 2000 "Tricatel Playgirl EP"
- 2000 "Commodore Rock" 12"/CD 5"
- 2000 "Mu-Tron" EP
- 2001 "The Way That I Found You" #102 UK
- 2001 "Playgirl Remixes" #89 UK
- 2002 "Seventeen"
#68 UK
- 2003 "Blue Jeans" #43 UK
- 2003 "Evil" #44 UK
- 2005 "Sugar" #45 UK
- 2005 "Destroy Everything You
Touch" #42 UK
Interviews
Most recent first:
Features
External links
References
