"Crystal World" is Softsynth's Best Electronic Album of 2013

According to Softsynth, Crystal World is the "Best Electronic Album of 2013"! Congratulations to Helen!

The album was introduced with these words:

Ladytron are one of our favourite bands, full stop. But Ladytron albums are often a mixed bag. Different vocalists, varying styles, some of it works like magic, some of it just doesn't, but the sheer boldness of their ongoing experimentation is thrilling and keeps their fans coming back, breathless, to see what they're going to do next.

What they've never been is predictable. Helen Marnie's debut solo effort is predictable in the sense of, "if Ladytron made the consummate, expected Ladytron album what would it sound like? Or put another way, if we could make our own perfect Ladytron album what would it be?" It would be Crystal World. Produced by bandmate, Daniel Hunt this "half of Ladytron" or "Ladytron light" strikes a perfect note.

With a chilliness one might expect from an album produced in Iceland, it's got a pristine quality that feels untouchable at first, unwelcoming at worst. But spend some time with these lyrics, and more so, these exquisite melodies (listen to the unexpected soar of her vocal throughout "The Wind Breezes On", or the building intensity of "Sugarland", or the out of left field vocal harmony on the bridge of "We Are the Sea", or... or... or... take your pick.

There are so many "moments" here you'll go dizzy searching them out) will simply grow on you like a virus. A very pretty, icy-sweet virus. Nearly flawless, Helen Marnie has transcended simple electronic music to bring us an honest-to-dog work of art. And it's the electronic album of the year.

Reuben Wu - Mechanoids

The title of that instrumental tune by Reuben Wu for GE is "Mechanoids".



It's also available on Soundcloud:

Reuben Wu did a soundtrack for a promotional video

Reuben Wu did a soundtrack for a promotional video titled "Over 2 Million Containers, 2,000 Routes - GE" for GE:



The music is excellent and it sounds like Ladytron and Orbital. The video is great too, because it's synchronized with the music. More details from this site:

In an attempt to "artistically demonstrate the complexity involved in the tightly-orchestrated intermodal process that is required to move goods", GE and Barbarian Group collaborated with Reuben Wu, of British band Ladytron, to create a new music video (of sorts) called "Over 2 Million Containers, 2000 Routes".

To create the music for the video, Wu integrated organic terminal sounds from CSX Intermodal Terminal in North Baltimore, Ohio with original instrumentation. The video takes the terminal sounds and original music, and creates a natural fit for the them "synchronized against key moments in the intermodal process". This may all sound very complicated and clinical, but the video succeeds at making this process appealing, giving the viewer an idea of all the complexity that goes into the "tightly-orchestrated intermodal process" in a way that is actually enjoyable.

"The Hunter" featured on TEC's 30 Best Songs of 2013 list

"The Hunter" featured on The Electricity Club's 30 Best Songs of 2013 list. The list is sorted alphabetically by artist names. The song was introduced with this paragraph:

"Ladytron's Helen Marnie released her long awaited debut solo album Crystal World in the summer. Recorded in Iceland, it suitably captured the island's beautifully relaxed but volatile atmosphere. Its opening track "The Hunter" was a tremendous calling card and the vibrant electropop single that Ladytron never quite got round to releasing. Very pretty and delectably glacial, the tune was vocally and musically expansive like an Arctic escapist fantasy, melancholic but free of doom".

Helen Marnie was also mentioned in End of Year 2013 Review by The Electricity Club:

"Artists who made their name during electroclash such as ADULT. and Miss Kittin made welcome returns in 2013 while also from that era, Ladytron's Helen Marnie released her first solo offering Crystal World; crowd funded via Pledge Music, it was a novel but effective way of securing a promotional budget that involved fans in the process by offering exclusive updates and an opportunity to purchase exclusive memorabilia. In Marnie's case, items on sale ranged from hand written lyric sheets to her Mini-Cooper and a bikini!".

Marnie's "The Hunter" is the third videoclip of the year at The VPME Awards 2013

According to The Von Pip Musical Express, "The Hunter" is the third video of the year.

They posted also this comment: "This was the first glimpse of Marnie's debut album which of course induced ridiculous excitement in VP Towers and no, it had absolutely nothing to do with the latex body suit, what do you take us for? Benny Hill?".

Marnie's "Crystal World" won The VPME's Album of the Year award

Marnie's Crystal World won the Album of the Year award by The Von Pip Musical Express! This site also gave a 5/5 rating and review to this album. Here's the message from The VPME:

Yes, our favourite album of 2013 comes from Ladytron singer Helen Marnie, we described the album as "a hugely emotive record which sees Helen step out from behind her mysterious sultry Ladytron persona and reveal herself to be a songwriter of enormous emotional depth and honesty, able to produce songs which are poetic, fragile, heartfelt, and often downright heart-breakingly beautiful. In doing so she demonstrates just how inspiring, poignant, and engaging pop music can be when it's produced with such eloquence and sincerity. If this album genuinely doesn't move you then we can only conclude your sorry excuse for a soul is as withered, empty and indeed as tiny as Jeremy Clarkson's emaciated little scrotum".

Upon accepting her magnificent "Pipster" award Helen said, "I had no idea how the album would be received so was pretty nervous. I've never won an award! Also, I never thought my name and Jeremy Clarkson's scrotum would appear on the same page. Now that is quite something! Thanks again x".

Check also this review and interview.

"Gravity the Seducer Remixed" was released on 29 November

Gravity the Seducer Remixed was released on 29 November as limited-edition blue vinyl. Probably it will be released also as digital download on iTunes and/or Amazon.

Track listing:

Side A
1. White Elephant (Strange Fruit Remix)
2. Mirage (Mixhell Remix)
3. White Gold (Tarsius Remix)
4. Ace of Hz (Punks Jump Up Remix)
5. Ritual (Reset! Remix)
6. Moon Palace (ARIISK Remix)

Side B
1. Altitude Blues (Outfit Remix)
2. Ambulances (Gosteffects Remix)
3. Melting Ice (The Chaotic Good Remix)
4. Transparent Days (SONOIO Remix)
5. Ninety Degrees (Somekong Remix)
6. Aces High (Ladytron Remix)

Remix "Hearts on Fire" by Marnie

Helen Marnie made the stems of "Hearts on Fire" available for remixing on this page. There's a contest: post your tracks via SoundCloud to the comments section of that page between now and 31 December, and the best remix will get a signed copy of Crystal World on vinyl.