Rockfalls & Estuaries
She Stepped of the Car
Young Etruscians
14 June 2012
Daniel Hunt will produce Helen Marnie' solo album
On 24 May 2012, Daniel Hunt posted this message on his Twitter account:
"Just confirmed that I'll be producing Helen Marnie's solo album in August. We've chosen to record it in Iceland".
Source
13 June 2012
Club Events interview (2006)
Date: 23rd July 2006
Location: Nessebar
Event: Viva Beach Festival
Text/questions: Elena Ionovska
It's been more than 3 years since the legendary now Ladytron gig in Sofia. Last night's show was part of Viva Beach Festival at the Black Sea. Ladytron played a long set featuring almost every track from their last album Witching Hour ("CMYK", "Whitelightgenerator" and "All the Way..." were the only ones that weren't performed). They also did an impromptu mash-up at the end - Mira rapping "Commodore Rock" (a track from Ladytron's first album 604 which lyrics are based on the Bulgarian national anthem) while Helen singing "Seventeen". On the next day I meet Helen & Reuben to talk about... music, the new album, life, touring, festivals, cats, dogs, whales... All in 15 minutes! A sincere un-edited version of the interview with the cute half Tron.
Elena: So what is your most vivid memory from your gig in Sofia in May 2003?
Reuben: It was definitely the gig and this huge beautiful building, inside like a ballroom, it just looked really really nice and the gig was very good as well.
Elena: And if you have to compare it with this one?
Reuben: Oh, completely different! It's more like a festival vibe. We've never played on the beach before...
Elena: Never?
Helen: We played on beaches but not in Bulgaria...
Reuben: Really? When was last time?...
Helen: About last week!
Reuben: Oh yeah! Almeria! (a Spanish festival at the Mediterranean coast) But that wasn't exactly the beach! It's the first time that we actually see the waves next to us.
Helen: We've done also Creamfields at the beach...
Elena: You've probably played at a lot of similar festivals in the summer in Spain or Portugal for example. Since this is the first time such an event is carried out in Bulgaria, could you compare it to the ones in Western Europe?
Reuben: They have so much in common... It's by the beach, it's great weather... (both laugh)
Helen: Well, it's a big party. Everyone wants to dance.
Elena: Danny and Mira wrote the lyrics for 604 and Light & Magic and in the last one, Helen, you write texts too. How did that come?
Helen: We all write now.
Reuben: It's very collaborative. Danny has always been the main songwriter. In Witching Hour it has been a lot more shared between all of us. It's going to be like that from now on. Which is really good, the third album in, we're still evolving... and it's the best so far.
Helen: The Witching Hour is the most varied of the three and the next one will probably be even more between the four of us, so these are four separate channels of influences that have impact on the music.
Elena: So who wrote "Beauty*2" lyrics?
Helen: I did.
Elena: In "Fighting in Build Up Areas", the Bulgarian track on the album, there are two layers of vocals and they seem different people. Is there another person who sings the back vocals in Bulgarian or it's Mira after all?
Helen: She does all, we don't have a substitute or a guest vocalist. (laughs)
Reuben: The vocal track of this tune has so many layers. It's quite difficult to listen to all of it and identify all as one. But it's definitely all Mira. All the vocals are within the band.
Elena: What about having a new album? Are you planning getting into studio soon? Not long after Witching Hour was released Danny said in an interview, you already have some material...
Helen: We do. With Witching Hour we had so many songs as well. We already had proper songs from some years ago and now we've also got around 15 tracks that are demo tapes and then next year we'll go into studio and work on them.
Reuben: It's always good to start with a whole load of tracks and then decide which of them are going to be on the album, which we'll use for B-sides and which are the ones that we need to work further and put on the next album.
Elena: So, roughly, shall we expect a new album in 2007?
Reuben: Hopefully. We do have a lot of tunes, a lot of demos, it's a question of finding time...
Helen: You can never make promises though!
Elena: What will be the new album sound direction? Witching Hour is considered darker than Light & Magic which is considered darker than 604... Will you continue with that?
Helen: It will be black!
Reuben: We might do a comedy album! Where everything is in major key, we never really do anything in the major key. Maybe we should do a major key album.
Elena: Will you continue to use mainly synths on?
Reuben: Oh, yeah! We're still a synthesizer band. Most of them are breaking down now. We need to find a replacement... We have some new MS2000 but they are only for lives. We have some other old analog synths that we prefer to use in the studio.
Elena: What do you enjoy doing when you're not occupied with music?
Helen (thoughtful): I enjoy...
Reuben: Shopping!
Helen: I don't shop much! (bashfully). I enjoy... going out with friends, taking my dog for a walk...
Elena: You have a dog? What kind?
Helen: (shows something the size of a larger ladies bag and says quietly) ...mongrel.
Reuben: A shitty little mongrel!
Elena: You prefer cats?
Reuben: Yeah, I do...
Helen: Cats are... No, you don't! Cats don't love anyone, they love everyone. Cats don't love you!
Reuben: They do, they love me. They just don't love you! You're a dog person, they know that, they feel that you're a dog person...
Helen: That's a speculation! I've got cats too!...
Reuben: I like animals, I love animals but I prefer cats!
Helen: Yeah... you love to eat them. (referring to "the animals", erm...)
Reuben: So do you!
Helen: But not sharks or... dolphins or...
Reuben: I did not eat dolphin or shark!
Helen: ...whales. (bursts into laughter)
Reuben: I didn't!
Helen: You wanted to!
Reuben: I was interested in the availability of it in Iceland...
Helen: Anyway...
Elena: Oh, Iceland! You did a gig there a month ago or so, how was that?
Helen: Yeah, it was amazing. We saw the Blue Lagoon, we had quite a bit time off, taken a look on culture... drinking culture... (laughter again)
Elena: Since last fall you have a new bass player - Andrea. How did you choose her?
Reuben: She's really good not only because she's a good bass player but it equals the gender balance within the band – it's 3 boys and 3 girls that play live... It's nice when we go out and tour. Because when you have too many boys, things get a little bit unhygienic after a while... It's good to have ladies.
Helen: She's great. When Jon (Pop Levi) left we were all sad about that because he was really good fun. But he wanted to do his own music. Andrea's definitely the right replacement.
Elena: The hardest moment for the band so far?
Helen: The hardest for me was probably before Witching Hour came out. It took us 2 years to get the album out, quite a bit of period of time off where we went through arranging things for that.
Reuben: Yeah. For me, it was that on creative level we had a whole new album ready to come out and it didn't come out for ages. I've felt in a bit of creative slump, we've just done something and waited to come out and we couldn't do anything until it comes out.
Elena: Does being in a band, means you have to make a lot of compromises or it's pretty easy-going?
Reuben: No, it's like having a cake! Definitely, compared to a normal job...
Helen: You always have to compromise doing any aspects of life...
Reuben: Everything is a compromise... When you're playing in a band, it's nice as well. I would enjoy the lifestyle. Getting to travel, seeing places, ok, you're not there like a whole week, you can't really check out the places, you leave on the next day after the gig, but still you do see a lot. For me that's one of the main things.
Elena: And do you enjoy touring?
Reuben: I like it!
Helen: I like most of it...
Elena: I guess it could get tiring at some point?
Helen: It's very tiring! No one's going to say it's easy because it's not easy. But it has benefits – we have a lot of fun, you go on stage every night, perform and do what you enjoy.
Reuben: Over the summer it's good for us because we mainly go out for the weekends and then come back home for 5 days and then go away again. Well, sometimes having an early flight is a bit of a pain but...
Elena: Will there be a European tour after the American tour?
Helen: Probably. We do America September till the end of October, then we have 10 days off, then we do South America in November till December. We're going to take some time off till mid January. And do a European tour in February or after that.
Elena: Are you willing to come back in Sofia?
Helen: Yes, Sofia was real good fun last time!
Source
Location: Nessebar
Event: Viva Beach Festival
Text/questions: Elena Ionovska
It's been more than 3 years since the legendary now Ladytron gig in Sofia. Last night's show was part of Viva Beach Festival at the Black Sea. Ladytron played a long set featuring almost every track from their last album Witching Hour ("CMYK", "Whitelightgenerator" and "All the Way..." were the only ones that weren't performed). They also did an impromptu mash-up at the end - Mira rapping "Commodore Rock" (a track from Ladytron's first album 604 which lyrics are based on the Bulgarian national anthem) while Helen singing "Seventeen". On the next day I meet Helen & Reuben to talk about... music, the new album, life, touring, festivals, cats, dogs, whales... All in 15 minutes! A sincere un-edited version of the interview with the cute half Tron.Elena: So what is your most vivid memory from your gig in Sofia in May 2003?
Reuben: It was definitely the gig and this huge beautiful building, inside like a ballroom, it just looked really really nice and the gig was very good as well.
Elena: And if you have to compare it with this one?
Reuben: Oh, completely different! It's more like a festival vibe. We've never played on the beach before...
Elena: Never?
Helen: We played on beaches but not in Bulgaria...
Reuben: Really? When was last time?...
Helen: About last week!
Reuben: Oh yeah! Almeria! (a Spanish festival at the Mediterranean coast) But that wasn't exactly the beach! It's the first time that we actually see the waves next to us.
Helen: We've done also Creamfields at the beach...
Elena: You've probably played at a lot of similar festivals in the summer in Spain or Portugal for example. Since this is the first time such an event is carried out in Bulgaria, could you compare it to the ones in Western Europe?
Reuben: They have so much in common... It's by the beach, it's great weather... (both laugh)
Helen: Well, it's a big party. Everyone wants to dance.
Elena: Danny and Mira wrote the lyrics for 604 and Light & Magic and in the last one, Helen, you write texts too. How did that come?
Helen: We all write now.
Reuben: It's very collaborative. Danny has always been the main songwriter. In Witching Hour it has been a lot more shared between all of us. It's going to be like that from now on. Which is really good, the third album in, we're still evolving... and it's the best so far.
Helen: The Witching Hour is the most varied of the three and the next one will probably be even more between the four of us, so these are four separate channels of influences that have impact on the music.
Elena: So who wrote "Beauty*2" lyrics?
Helen: I did.
Elena: In "Fighting in Build Up Areas", the Bulgarian track on the album, there are two layers of vocals and they seem different people. Is there another person who sings the back vocals in Bulgarian or it's Mira after all?
Helen: She does all, we don't have a substitute or a guest vocalist. (laughs)
Reuben: The vocal track of this tune has so many layers. It's quite difficult to listen to all of it and identify all as one. But it's definitely all Mira. All the vocals are within the band.
Elena: What about having a new album? Are you planning getting into studio soon? Not long after Witching Hour was released Danny said in an interview, you already have some material...
Helen: We do. With Witching Hour we had so many songs as well. We already had proper songs from some years ago and now we've also got around 15 tracks that are demo tapes and then next year we'll go into studio and work on them.
Reuben: It's always good to start with a whole load of tracks and then decide which of them are going to be on the album, which we'll use for B-sides and which are the ones that we need to work further and put on the next album.
Elena: So, roughly, shall we expect a new album in 2007?
Reuben: Hopefully. We do have a lot of tunes, a lot of demos, it's a question of finding time...
Helen: You can never make promises though!
Elena: What will be the new album sound direction? Witching Hour is considered darker than Light & Magic which is considered darker than 604... Will you continue with that?
Helen: It will be black!
Reuben: We might do a comedy album! Where everything is in major key, we never really do anything in the major key. Maybe we should do a major key album.
Elena: Will you continue to use mainly synths on?
Reuben: Oh, yeah! We're still a synthesizer band. Most of them are breaking down now. We need to find a replacement... We have some new MS2000 but they are only for lives. We have some other old analog synths that we prefer to use in the studio.
Elena: What do you enjoy doing when you're not occupied with music?Helen (thoughtful): I enjoy...
Reuben: Shopping!
Helen: I don't shop much! (bashfully). I enjoy... going out with friends, taking my dog for a walk...
Elena: You have a dog? What kind?
Helen: (shows something the size of a larger ladies bag and says quietly) ...mongrel.
Reuben: A shitty little mongrel!
Elena: You prefer cats?
Reuben: Yeah, I do...
Helen: Cats are... No, you don't! Cats don't love anyone, they love everyone. Cats don't love you!
Reuben: They do, they love me. They just don't love you! You're a dog person, they know that, they feel that you're a dog person...
Helen: That's a speculation! I've got cats too!...
Reuben: I like animals, I love animals but I prefer cats!
Helen: Yeah... you love to eat them. (referring to "the animals", erm...)
Reuben: So do you!
Helen: But not sharks or... dolphins or...
Reuben: I did not eat dolphin or shark!
Helen: ...whales. (bursts into laughter)
Reuben: I didn't!
Helen: You wanted to!
Reuben: I was interested in the availability of it in Iceland...
Helen: Anyway...
Elena: Oh, Iceland! You did a gig there a month ago or so, how was that?
Helen: Yeah, it was amazing. We saw the Blue Lagoon, we had quite a bit time off, taken a look on culture... drinking culture... (laughter again)
Elena: Since last fall you have a new bass player - Andrea. How did you choose her?
Reuben: She's really good not only because she's a good bass player but it equals the gender balance within the band – it's 3 boys and 3 girls that play live... It's nice when we go out and tour. Because when you have too many boys, things get a little bit unhygienic after a while... It's good to have ladies.
Helen: She's great. When Jon (Pop Levi) left we were all sad about that because he was really good fun. But he wanted to do his own music. Andrea's definitely the right replacement.
Elena: The hardest moment for the band so far?
Helen: The hardest for me was probably before Witching Hour came out. It took us 2 years to get the album out, quite a bit of period of time off where we went through arranging things for that.
Reuben: Yeah. For me, it was that on creative level we had a whole new album ready to come out and it didn't come out for ages. I've felt in a bit of creative slump, we've just done something and waited to come out and we couldn't do anything until it comes out.
Elena: Does being in a band, means you have to make a lot of compromises or it's pretty easy-going?
Reuben: No, it's like having a cake! Definitely, compared to a normal job...
Helen: You always have to compromise doing any aspects of life...
Reuben: Everything is a compromise... When you're playing in a band, it's nice as well. I would enjoy the lifestyle. Getting to travel, seeing places, ok, you're not there like a whole week, you can't really check out the places, you leave on the next day after the gig, but still you do see a lot. For me that's one of the main things.
Elena: And do you enjoy touring? Reuben: I like it!
Helen: I like most of it...
Elena: I guess it could get tiring at some point?
Helen: It's very tiring! No one's going to say it's easy because it's not easy. But it has benefits – we have a lot of fun, you go on stage every night, perform and do what you enjoy.
Reuben: Over the summer it's good for us because we mainly go out for the weekends and then come back home for 5 days and then go away again. Well, sometimes having an early flight is a bit of a pain but...
Elena: Will there be a European tour after the American tour?
Helen: Probably. We do America September till the end of October, then we have 10 days off, then we do South America in November till December. We're going to take some time off till mid January. And do a European tour in February or after that.
Elena: Are you willing to come back in Sofia?
Helen: Yes, Sofia was real good fun last time!
Source
06 June 2012
Repeat Fanzine interview (2009)
Ladytron on Their Past, Present & Future...
March 2009
"In 2001, the first fruits of what would become the new electronic-rock movement began to fall. Ladytron's debut, 604, was an integral part of that first strike. A pristine, analogue adventure of sound and substance, the album would go on to influence the genre itself, while the group quietly made a global impact both visually and stylistically. Ladytron's counterbalance of emotional vulnerability and psychological ingenuity – personified by the opposing vocals of Helen Marnie and Mira Aroyo – created their own world that had yet to be fully explored". OFFICIAL LADYTRON BIOG EXTRACT
"Ladytron's doom-laden arrangements feel as accomplished as Radiohead jamming with the Pet Shop Boys". BLENDER
Having perfect symmetry, would be an ideal way of describing Ladytron – who formed in Liverpool in the Summer of 1999 and took their name from a Roxy Music song. As aesthetically, with two bombshell femmes, Glaswegian born Helen Marnie and Bulgarian born Mira Aroyo, plus two Liverpudlian hommes, Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu, they are one of the classiest, most refined and razor-sharp union's you'll ever lay eyes on! For whether Ladytron are gracing artwork, music videos or the stage (in post-Apocalyptic, Blade Runner-esque, utilitarian military-style uniforms), their cool, calm and collected composure, savoir faire + iconography, has always been sympathetic to their songs and is nothing short of enamouring!
And that's just for starters, as I haven't even begun to touch on the other important part yet – their crisp, chilly and crystalline electropop, with a dark edge and slick polished sheen. Which has rainfalls of processed / pneumatic beats, 'Teutonic Krautrock' motorik rhythms, sparks of treated effects, programmed loops, spiralling synthetic samples, embers of effulgent guitars and galvanised metallic bass. All incased in a shiny cybernetic shell, with the simmering, sexy and sparkling 'signature' vocals shared between dual singers, Helen and Mira (who also sings in her native tongue).
Automaton and euphonious voices that are complete opposites, yet as if by magic, gel seamlessly together. Be it Helen's sweet velvety purr, gliding and caressing your ears with ghostly emotion, or Mira's vampish exotic tones, writhing with icy-detachment and dripping with sensuousness. Perhaps this is because every single word and every single breath, is bolted to luxurious and immaculate songs that sound like they've fallen from the sky. Which when allied with the group's enigmatic / oblique lyrics, could be summarised as an alchemic extraction of beauty from technology – or what Mira once spiritedly coined as, "Electro with a fist!".
At its core then, Ladytron's clean, smart, methodical and streamlined retro-futuristic music, cuts both a resplendent and wistful path, and is fundamentally programmed electronica with a human touch, that's festooned with blips + bleeps and emanates a wintry wonder, clandestine romance and vitality, rocketed by the band's zeal and commitment to craftsmanship. Four tantalizing albums are currently available for your delectation – 604 (2001), Light & Magic (2002), Witching Hour (2005) and Velocifero (2008), along with one DJ mix compilation, Softcore Jukebox (2003). Sterling bodies of work, whose spectrum of sound, elegant precision and vapour trails, will quicken your pulse, evoke shivers of pleasure and enrich your life!
So far, each consecutive release hasn't merely been a continuation of the previous LP, it has been a quantum leap record that's raised the bar, with the group swiftly progressing and growing by "focusing on a balance between pop structures and digitally-edited analogue electronic sound, with experimental leanings". Which at this moment in time, has blossomed into a much fleshier, full-blooded, souped-up and robust whole, that's firing on all cylinders! Adding to this eclectic nature and multifarious output, is the fact that each band member now brings his or her own individual musical piquancy to the table; "We've gotten to know each other's strengths a lot better", Mira once reflected on Ladytron's pool of talent and their close, co-operative relationship.
In this sense, with arrangements, instrumentation, complex circuitry, musical compounds and detail to the Nth degree, that can be pored over, Ladytron can rightly be classed as maestros, scrupulous technicians, modern architects and premier purveyors of glacial sonic washes – the "heavyweight template" or omnipresent bedrock of their sound. As they persistently squeeze phenomenal and innovative creative juices from their hearts and minds. In turn, transferring their inspiration / ideas to synthesisers and producing coruscating tracks, that provide vantage points from which to see how far they could possibly go! And on repeated listens, individually disrobe their multi-layered splendour along with a collision of nifty noises that will leave you smitten. A fact not lost on other musicians or club promoters, as exclusive Ladytron remixes and DJ sets are highly-coveted!
Thankfully, the group's latest long player, Velocifero, has been their most successful to date – helping elevate their status by delighting the faithful and crucially, picking up new fans. And after taking a well-deserved break following the completion of their lengthy 2008 tour + writing songs with Christina Aguilera at her LA home, for the diva's forthcoming album. Helen has very kindly filled in an Exclusive Questionnaire for R*E*P*E*A*T, as Ladytron prepare for a new 3 month tour of the USA and Europe – where they will also be supporting the legendary Depeche Mode on some dates! They have even been personally invited by Brian Eno (one of their biggest musical heroes) to perform at the Sydney Opera House in June, as part of his curation there!
So, by continuing to fuse intrigue with accessibility, many more people are now beginning to wake up to the sound of Ladytron, discovering that they are utterly beguiling and endlessly fascinating, with music that lingers long past listening. And as a meritorious band who need to be seen, heard + felt, and who have their own vision of success, I predict that Planet Earth will soon be witnessing the rise of the robots...
Growing up, what was your biggest source for discovering new music, and can you remember the first press coverage, radio airplay or TV exposure that Ladytron ever had?
I was a regular Top of the Pops and Chart Show viewer, so I guess that's where I found different types of music. I think the first coverage we got, was when John Peel played "He Took Her to a Movie" on his Radio 1 show. And then following that, we got 'Single of the Week' in the NME.
You have long had an extremely devoted / cult following throughout Europe, but why do you think Europeans have always been so drawn to subcultures / dark electro, rock and gothic music?
It's strange how particular pockets across the world just seem to 'get' our music. As well as in Europe, we've also always done really well in the US, along with South and Central America. It's a surprise when you go somewhere for the first time and find a fanbase that has been waiting years for you to come and play. It feels good, but the reason for it – I don't know? Perhaps they just appreciate good music and don't want to conform to the norm.
Continuing with this train of thought, Johnny Marr recently gave a lecture at The University of Salford, where he argued that "Outsiders are the lifeblood of The Music Industry, but too often overlooked". What are your feelings on this?
It's true. 'Outsiders' inspire others to do things, but often don't get the success that they deserve. It's not always the case, but it does happen often. It's like the whole surge in the mainstream at the moment for electro / synth tracks. Everyone has resorted to it, and bigger artists are heavily influenced by bands that may never break through. It's just the way things go. Always will be.
What has been the best thing that someone has ever said about Ladytron?
In China, a journalist asked myself and Mira, "Why we looked like men?" It was funny. The girl was sweet, but just got her words mixed up... I assume.
As a primarily electronic-based group, of all the beats, effects, loops, samples, textures etc. in your songs, which have been the most rewarding to create?
I think every song is rewarding in some way, and when you hear them all come together as an album, then it all makes sense. We don't have a formula for songwriting, it changes from track to track. Sometimes it starts with a lyric, other times a melody or riff. "Predict the Day", from Velocifero, started with a whistle and grew from there.
Has the way you worked changed over the years?
The main thing that's changed over the years, is that we are all writing now. When we first came together, Danny had already written the whole of the first album. It's more equal now and more diverse too, because we're all contributing. We all have studios at home and usually we individually construct a track, then pass it on for someone else to add to.
Would you ever consider stripping away some of the electronica in your music, in order to create more acoustic, organic and pastoral songs, similar to what Goldfrapp did with their Seventh Tree album?
I would never say never – as long as it was a natural progression. I wouldn't want to create anything that was contrived. I really like the way Bat For Lashes has melded her folk-like tones with electro.
The Pet Shop Boys deservedly received ‘The Outstanding Contribution to Music' prize at The 2009 Brit Awards, but who for you, would also be worthy of such an accolade and why?
As a kid, I loved Michael Jackson and Madonna. I think they've both done enough to be worthy. Madonna's new stuff might not be what I want to listen to, but at least she has the ability to change.
You seem to have a very strong sense of self, and have clearly taken great care and consideration over the band's style and artwork. Is this important to you?
It is important, because people will take one look at you and judge you. So it's important you get it right, or at least show how you want to be perceived. We're all interested in design – Reuben previously was a product designer and Danny did a lot of graphic design – so it was natural for us to take an interest in our own artwork.
Your live shows are both cherished and celebrated for their all-encompassing nature, but what type of experience do you hope that you give to your audience?
Audiences differ a lot – it depends where you are and what night it is. We mostly get a lot of happy faces and dancers, but occasionally, we get starers. I'm unsure why they need to stare at us, expressionless. I would hope that people go away from our gigs wanting more and wanting to relive the whole experience all over again. We like to mix up the gig as much as possible to include songs from all 4 albums. It's difficult though to please everyone, without doing an Elton John length gig.
And if you had an unlimited budget, what would be your dream stage set-up?
Lights are the most important part of the stage set-up, so if our budget was bottomless, then I'd fill the stage with all sorts of bulbs and an interactive map as a background. It's a crowd pleaser!
What have been some of your personal highlights / defining moments, during your career so far?
There have been quite a few highs with Ladytron. Just touring the US for the first time was pretty amazing to me. Going to South America, to Brazil or Columbia – where the record isn't even out – and playing to a crowd of over 3,000 people is quite a shock.
When you do have some free time to yourself, how do you like to spend it?
Time is precious, that I know. When I'm home, I like to just settle in – see friends, family, my dog, my boyfriend… but not in that order. I've recently taken up the rock 'n' roll art of Knitting and I'm also into sewing and fashion design.
If you were asked to look after 'Later… with Jools Holland' for 1 week, as well as featuring Ladytron in the line-up, which other 5 acts / bands (a mix of new + old) would you book to appear on the programme?
Bat For Lashes
Kate Bush
Phosphorescent
Fairport Convention
MGMT
Lastly, chips or cream buns?
Most definitely chips.
Source
March 2009
"In 2001, the first fruits of what would become the new electronic-rock movement began to fall. Ladytron's debut, 604, was an integral part of that first strike. A pristine, analogue adventure of sound and substance, the album would go on to influence the genre itself, while the group quietly made a global impact both visually and stylistically. Ladytron's counterbalance of emotional vulnerability and psychological ingenuity – personified by the opposing vocals of Helen Marnie and Mira Aroyo – created their own world that had yet to be fully explored". OFFICIAL LADYTRON BIOG EXTRACT"Ladytron's doom-laden arrangements feel as accomplished as Radiohead jamming with the Pet Shop Boys". BLENDER
Having perfect symmetry, would be an ideal way of describing Ladytron – who formed in Liverpool in the Summer of 1999 and took their name from a Roxy Music song. As aesthetically, with two bombshell femmes, Glaswegian born Helen Marnie and Bulgarian born Mira Aroyo, plus two Liverpudlian hommes, Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu, they are one of the classiest, most refined and razor-sharp union's you'll ever lay eyes on! For whether Ladytron are gracing artwork, music videos or the stage (in post-Apocalyptic, Blade Runner-esque, utilitarian military-style uniforms), their cool, calm and collected composure, savoir faire + iconography, has always been sympathetic to their songs and is nothing short of enamouring!
And that's just for starters, as I haven't even begun to touch on the other important part yet – their crisp, chilly and crystalline electropop, with a dark edge and slick polished sheen. Which has rainfalls of processed / pneumatic beats, 'Teutonic Krautrock' motorik rhythms, sparks of treated effects, programmed loops, spiralling synthetic samples, embers of effulgent guitars and galvanised metallic bass. All incased in a shiny cybernetic shell, with the simmering, sexy and sparkling 'signature' vocals shared between dual singers, Helen and Mira (who also sings in her native tongue).
Automaton and euphonious voices that are complete opposites, yet as if by magic, gel seamlessly together. Be it Helen's sweet velvety purr, gliding and caressing your ears with ghostly emotion, or Mira's vampish exotic tones, writhing with icy-detachment and dripping with sensuousness. Perhaps this is because every single word and every single breath, is bolted to luxurious and immaculate songs that sound like they've fallen from the sky. Which when allied with the group's enigmatic / oblique lyrics, could be summarised as an alchemic extraction of beauty from technology – or what Mira once spiritedly coined as, "Electro with a fist!".
At its core then, Ladytron's clean, smart, methodical and streamlined retro-futuristic music, cuts both a resplendent and wistful path, and is fundamentally programmed electronica with a human touch, that's festooned with blips + bleeps and emanates a wintry wonder, clandestine romance and vitality, rocketed by the band's zeal and commitment to craftsmanship. Four tantalizing albums are currently available for your delectation – 604 (2001), Light & Magic (2002), Witching Hour (2005) and Velocifero (2008), along with one DJ mix compilation, Softcore Jukebox (2003). Sterling bodies of work, whose spectrum of sound, elegant precision and vapour trails, will quicken your pulse, evoke shivers of pleasure and enrich your life!So far, each consecutive release hasn't merely been a continuation of the previous LP, it has been a quantum leap record that's raised the bar, with the group swiftly progressing and growing by "focusing on a balance between pop structures and digitally-edited analogue electronic sound, with experimental leanings". Which at this moment in time, has blossomed into a much fleshier, full-blooded, souped-up and robust whole, that's firing on all cylinders! Adding to this eclectic nature and multifarious output, is the fact that each band member now brings his or her own individual musical piquancy to the table; "We've gotten to know each other's strengths a lot better", Mira once reflected on Ladytron's pool of talent and their close, co-operative relationship.
In this sense, with arrangements, instrumentation, complex circuitry, musical compounds and detail to the Nth degree, that can be pored over, Ladytron can rightly be classed as maestros, scrupulous technicians, modern architects and premier purveyors of glacial sonic washes – the "heavyweight template" or omnipresent bedrock of their sound. As they persistently squeeze phenomenal and innovative creative juices from their hearts and minds. In turn, transferring their inspiration / ideas to synthesisers and producing coruscating tracks, that provide vantage points from which to see how far they could possibly go! And on repeated listens, individually disrobe their multi-layered splendour along with a collision of nifty noises that will leave you smitten. A fact not lost on other musicians or club promoters, as exclusive Ladytron remixes and DJ sets are highly-coveted!
Thankfully, the group's latest long player, Velocifero, has been their most successful to date – helping elevate their status by delighting the faithful and crucially, picking up new fans. And after taking a well-deserved break following the completion of their lengthy 2008 tour + writing songs with Christina Aguilera at her LA home, for the diva's forthcoming album. Helen has very kindly filled in an Exclusive Questionnaire for R*E*P*E*A*T, as Ladytron prepare for a new 3 month tour of the USA and Europe – where they will also be supporting the legendary Depeche Mode on some dates! They have even been personally invited by Brian Eno (one of their biggest musical heroes) to perform at the Sydney Opera House in June, as part of his curation there!So, by continuing to fuse intrigue with accessibility, many more people are now beginning to wake up to the sound of Ladytron, discovering that they are utterly beguiling and endlessly fascinating, with music that lingers long past listening. And as a meritorious band who need to be seen, heard + felt, and who have their own vision of success, I predict that Planet Earth will soon be witnessing the rise of the robots...
Growing up, what was your biggest source for discovering new music, and can you remember the first press coverage, radio airplay or TV exposure that Ladytron ever had?
I was a regular Top of the Pops and Chart Show viewer, so I guess that's where I found different types of music. I think the first coverage we got, was when John Peel played "He Took Her to a Movie" on his Radio 1 show. And then following that, we got 'Single of the Week' in the NME.
You have long had an extremely devoted / cult following throughout Europe, but why do you think Europeans have always been so drawn to subcultures / dark electro, rock and gothic music?
It's strange how particular pockets across the world just seem to 'get' our music. As well as in Europe, we've also always done really well in the US, along with South and Central America. It's a surprise when you go somewhere for the first time and find a fanbase that has been waiting years for you to come and play. It feels good, but the reason for it – I don't know? Perhaps they just appreciate good music and don't want to conform to the norm.
Continuing with this train of thought, Johnny Marr recently gave a lecture at The University of Salford, where he argued that "Outsiders are the lifeblood of The Music Industry, but too often overlooked". What are your feelings on this?
It's true. 'Outsiders' inspire others to do things, but often don't get the success that they deserve. It's not always the case, but it does happen often. It's like the whole surge in the mainstream at the moment for electro / synth tracks. Everyone has resorted to it, and bigger artists are heavily influenced by bands that may never break through. It's just the way things go. Always will be.
What has been the best thing that someone has ever said about Ladytron?
In China, a journalist asked myself and Mira, "Why we looked like men?" It was funny. The girl was sweet, but just got her words mixed up... I assume.
As a primarily electronic-based group, of all the beats, effects, loops, samples, textures etc. in your songs, which have been the most rewarding to create?
I think every song is rewarding in some way, and when you hear them all come together as an album, then it all makes sense. We don't have a formula for songwriting, it changes from track to track. Sometimes it starts with a lyric, other times a melody or riff. "Predict the Day", from Velocifero, started with a whistle and grew from there.Has the way you worked changed over the years?
The main thing that's changed over the years, is that we are all writing now. When we first came together, Danny had already written the whole of the first album. It's more equal now and more diverse too, because we're all contributing. We all have studios at home and usually we individually construct a track, then pass it on for someone else to add to.
Would you ever consider stripping away some of the electronica in your music, in order to create more acoustic, organic and pastoral songs, similar to what Goldfrapp did with their Seventh Tree album?
I would never say never – as long as it was a natural progression. I wouldn't want to create anything that was contrived. I really like the way Bat For Lashes has melded her folk-like tones with electro.
The Pet Shop Boys deservedly received ‘The Outstanding Contribution to Music' prize at The 2009 Brit Awards, but who for you, would also be worthy of such an accolade and why?
As a kid, I loved Michael Jackson and Madonna. I think they've both done enough to be worthy. Madonna's new stuff might not be what I want to listen to, but at least she has the ability to change.
You seem to have a very strong sense of self, and have clearly taken great care and consideration over the band's style and artwork. Is this important to you?
It is important, because people will take one look at you and judge you. So it's important you get it right, or at least show how you want to be perceived. We're all interested in design – Reuben previously was a product designer and Danny did a lot of graphic design – so it was natural for us to take an interest in our own artwork.
Your live shows are both cherished and celebrated for their all-encompassing nature, but what type of experience do you hope that you give to your audience?
Audiences differ a lot – it depends where you are and what night it is. We mostly get a lot of happy faces and dancers, but occasionally, we get starers. I'm unsure why they need to stare at us, expressionless. I would hope that people go away from our gigs wanting more and wanting to relive the whole experience all over again. We like to mix up the gig as much as possible to include songs from all 4 albums. It's difficult though to please everyone, without doing an Elton John length gig.
And if you had an unlimited budget, what would be your dream stage set-up?
Lights are the most important part of the stage set-up, so if our budget was bottomless, then I'd fill the stage with all sorts of bulbs and an interactive map as a background. It's a crowd pleaser!
What have been some of your personal highlights / defining moments, during your career so far?There have been quite a few highs with Ladytron. Just touring the US for the first time was pretty amazing to me. Going to South America, to Brazil or Columbia – where the record isn't even out – and playing to a crowd of over 3,000 people is quite a shock.
When you do have some free time to yourself, how do you like to spend it?
Time is precious, that I know. When I'm home, I like to just settle in – see friends, family, my dog, my boyfriend… but not in that order. I've recently taken up the rock 'n' roll art of Knitting and I'm also into sewing and fashion design.
If you were asked to look after 'Later… with Jools Holland' for 1 week, as well as featuring Ladytron in the line-up, which other 5 acts / bands (a mix of new + old) would you book to appear on the programme?
Bat For Lashes
Kate Bush
Phosphorescent
Fairport Convention
MGMT
Lastly, chips or cream buns?
Most definitely chips.
Source
04 June 2012
Ladytron - Montreal, 2011
Format: MP4, 1280x720
Size: 1.1 GB
Source: audience recording
Content:
01. Soft Power
02. International Dateline
03. Mirage
04. Ghosts
05. High Rise
06. True Mathematics
07. White Gold
08. Runaway
09. Ace of Hz
10. Little Black Angel
11. Discotraxx
12. Fighting in Built Up Areas
13. Seventeen
14. White Elephant
15. Destroy Everything You Touch
Download: part 1 | part 2
01 June 2012
30 May 2012
The Skinny interview (2011)
With their fifth album on the neon horizon, Ladytron show no signs of putting their feet up. Singer Helen Marnie takes time out to talk "electro music with heart".Hitting the ten year mark and still sounding innovative and forward thinking is no small achievement in the electro pop world. Whilst many of their contemporaries faded from sight or became niche concerns, Ladytron spent the last decade channeling their underground sound into wider exposure on their own dime.
With that period crystallized in their recent Best Of, the Liverpool-based quartet have put a line underneath their past. With fifth album Gravity the Seducer promising a new direction, it seemed a good time to check in with singer Helen Marnie.
Congratulations on reaching your tenth birthday as Ladytron. Do you feel like veterans?
I wouldn't say we feel like 'veterans', more like a bunch of kids trying to figure out what works for us. We've learnt a lot over the years though and I think this has attributed to our longevity. We've been very lucky really. Luck, hard work and hard touring have made us the Ladytron we are today.
What made you want to take stock of your first decade with the recent Best Of album?
After ten years it felt like we had the right to put out a package that encapsulated us. [We wanted] a brief history of the 'Tron, so any newcomer could pick up the album and know exactly where we came from, and where we're going.
Can you remember there being a point where everything clicked into place and you knew Ladytron were going to have legs?
I'd say the turning point was when we all left our 'proper' jobs. When I was younger I was more into risks like that, so it wasn't a big deal. Witching Hour was probably the album that changed us. It was like a coming of age, we were all writing, coming up with ideas, and I think it presents like that. It was received well and because of that, a massive whirlwind of touring followed. Looking back it was kind of nuts!
Your electroclash sound, if you will, is considered fair game for pop music these days. Does this feel vindicating or just depressing?
Neither really. The mainstream always catches on soon enough, so no surprises really.
Are you able to see a more genuine influence in anyone popping up these days?
It's weird to name people that may or may not be influenced by you. Who knows where peoples' inspiration comes from? I've enjoyed the last two records of both MGMT and Yeasayer. I think they're flying the flag for electro music with heart.
Is it difficult to remain 'forward-thinking' after four albums?What's difficult is deciding which tracks make it on the album as we always have too much material. With Gravity the Seducer our approach was pretty easy. We'd all been writing, plus we'd had over a year off from touring which really made a difference and cleared our heads. We were all excited to just get back in the studio and hear the new tracks coming together.
It was recorded, I'm faithfully told, in the English countryside. This seems rather incongruous to the Ladytron aesthetic. Can we expect something of a curveball in September?
It sure was, in Kent, the Garden of England. It was great. In-between takes I could go outside and feed the horses in the field. I think people will be surprised by Gravity. It isn't like our other albums. It sounds warm, lush, full of strings, organs and bells. It won't please everyone, you never can, but we're all pretty happy with it.
You originally lived in Glasgow. Will your gig at the Arches be something of a homecoming and how are Scottish audiences in general?
I love coming home to Scotland. I'm hoping to move back permanently. Like they say 'you can take the girl out of Scotland, but you can't take Scotland out of the girl'. The gigs have always been great north of the border. Glasgow audiences always show us a good time. Here's to June 9th!
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