Ladytron’s latest release, “Gravity the Seducer,” provides listeners with an ethereal yet edgy 12-song masterpiece.
This album, released on iTunes Sept. 12, has been described as a “flawless electronic production with mind-blowing melodies that are of lush perfection,” and once you listen to it, you’ll agree.
Twelve years ago, Ladytron formed in Liverpool, Merseyside. This musical quartet consists of vocalists Helen Marnie and Mira Aroyo, electric guitarist Daniel Hunt and synth genius Reuben Wu.
Their sounds mash together synth-pop and electro-pop with new wave elements for an extravagant production of rhythmic sounds. Ladytron is often categorized as electronic pop because of their focus on harmonizing pop sounds with more experimental and modern sounds.
The name Ladytron was derived from the song “Ladytron” by Roxy Music, released June 16, 1972, and written by musical phenomenon Bryan Ferry. Something that makes Ladytron stand out to their audiences is that Aroyo sings some songs in her native Bulgarian language.
“Gravity the Seducer” is Ladytron’s fifth LP since their first full-length release in 2001, “604.” This was their second studio album to be released by Nettwerk.
In May 2011, their first single, “White Elephant,” was officially released and a video for the song was made available to the public on YouTube in July.
“White Elephant” is a deviously good song that automatically has the ability to jolt any listener into a euphoric state of mind. The swinging melody of the song shows the true roots of Ladytron’s style, which can be seen in all of their enrapturing albums. There is a sense of weightless passion in “White Elephant” that creates a peaceful yet intriguing four-minutes-and-16-second state of bliss while listening to this track.
The same ethereal rhythm of “White Elephant” can be heard and felt on the album’s eighth track, “Ambulances.” However, “Ambulances” pairs this surreal melodic beat with a drum machine and lyrics describing the loss of a passionate love. This song pulls the audience into what could be described as a deep musical chasm.
A unique quality of “Gravity the Seducer” is that the fourth track on the album, “Ace of Hz,” was originally on their greatest hits album “Best of 00-10,” released March 2011, but this particular song was also released in November 2010 as the album single for “Best of 00-10.” This song can also be recognized from the soundtrack to FIFA 2011.
“Ace of Hz” has a bass line that carries you on a journey through a hand-clapping percussion beat and delicately passionate vocals. The blend of vocals with the carefully produced analog rhythm creates a smoggy haze of sound that reveals the essence of Ladytron. The synthesizers on this song specifically create a sort of dance-y, head bobbing rhythm that is musically seductive.
Almost halfway through the album, placed at track five, is an entirely melodic track titled “Ritual.” In spite of the lack of lyrics, this harmonious song is a great transition from the first half of the album to the second half, providing the listener with a full instrumental track.
“Gravity the Seducer” takes “Velocifero” underrated sound and throws energy and surreal sounds to the familiar beats. Ladytron takes their sounds up several notches in “Gravity the Seducer” with the helping hand of Nine Inch Nails’ Alessandro Cortini.
Most similar to the album that gave them an audience, “The Witching Hour,” “Gravity the Seducer” is Ladytron’s attempt at pulling away to newer sounds while still pushing the rhythms that drew people to them. This melodic push-pull could be the only rub in the album.
This transitional album expresses the growing pains and the nervousness in splitting away from the past. Ladytron constantly shows their greatness throughout the entirety of the album, but for a band that has been around for a dozen years, a bit more of a separation from the sounds of previously great albums could boost their fan base and reignite their potential.
