Review by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
I have been listening to the Liverpool based synth-poppers Ladytron since 2001 when 604 was released and electronica was having its moment in the sun. This band brought their smooth sounds of disco synths and their distinctive vocals into the global musical soundscape. I am glad to see Ladytron in releasing this new record Paradises really hits the mood of the time in this their eighth studio album.
Ladytron are Helen Marnie (vocals, synthesisers), Mira Aroyo (vocals, synthesisers), and Daniel Hunt (synthesisers, vocals) and they open their new record with their haunting vocals and electronic synth pulses of the disco adjacent ‘I Believe In You’. The band’s funky techno-percussion sets the tone and musicality of the album’s core soundscape. And like a “telegraph from God”, via the club, takes 5 minutes of time to lose your mind to the beat.
‘In Blood’ is an album highlight as the Scot, Helen Marnie, sets the scene of a King’s palace with a synth fanfare. The lyrics suggest treason as: “In blood, you best not miss. We don’t want to hang for this”. It is followed by ‘Kingdom Undersea’ that begins with a slapping synth sound that marks the entering of a new fantastical territory. There is a looping piano refrain spurring on the listener to: “why don’t you come with me to a kingdom undersea. Come find me, come find me” as “rhododendrons” bloom. Then, 1980’s upbeat synth crash in as ‘I See Red’ takes you back to a former electronica era. Where is that underground club?!
‘A Death In London’ is probably where that club is, but it’s a tale about an illusory city as seen through “foreign eyes” and acid-house sounds as the beat parodies the Pet Shop Boys. The street names “deceive” and “no longer exist”. It’s quite gloomy as this London is “a place where dreams go to die” with added sinister string sounds and a silky sax solo. ‘Secret Dreams Of Thieves’ with its glacial synths and pulsing beat follows. The sound creates imagery of an icy terrain comes in your mind as: “The secret dreams of thieves. Who ran so fast they seized the chance of their lives. Hearts of fire. Melt thin ice. Falling through paradise”. The song ‘Sing’ has a light euphoric and luxurious house beat that glow with twinkling and sparkling disco production. ‘Free, Free’ with its bell like chimes is a kind of pastiche to the band’s New Romantic forbears.
The ghostly ‘Metaphysica’ is another album highlight that reminds me of Visage’s ‘Fade to Grey’ as the song is underpinned with synthesised voices, handclaps, and electronic drums. The lyrics of “sweet telepathy is our weaponry” is a clue to the song’s intent.The mesmeric sad disco of ‘Caught In The Blink Of An Eye’ sees the band momentarily dropping their New Wave outlook to reflect on death. It is followed by ‘Evergreen’ with its brittle and bright rhythms that bounce along in a soundscape of sequenced sound of the harp. The light and feathery ‘Ordinary Love’ is very reserved. While the majestic ‘We Wrote Our Names In The Dust’ commences with a real voice before transforming into an instrumental loop with added harp and rave drums.
The song ‘Heatwaves’ rolls on into the sense of wonder in the chiming synths of ‘Solid Light’. The more optimistic ‘For A Life In London’ a spoken-word reminiscence closes out and wraps up the 16 song album with a fluid sax solo. Paradises is Ladytron’s most dance-oriented record since their wonderful 2002 Light & Magic and will be loved by new wave and moody atmospheric music lovers.
