Ladytron preview

Ladytron
Vic Theatre, Chicago
Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Ladytron’s electro-pop sizzle had to undergo a series of maneuvers once trends caught up with them. Their 2001 debut, 604 (Emperor Norton), remains a bankable continental classic, but for their fourth entry, Velocifero (Nettwerk), they go international by looking at their own roster.

The band, formed in Liverpool, have keyed on vocalist Mira Aroyo’s Bulgarian roots in the past — 604‘s “CSKA Sofia” is named for her native country’s biggest football club. But Velocifero marks the first time (first two times, actually) she sings in its tongue on an album. You could discuss all sorts of points how a futuristic band are using somewhat-ancient linguistics (Bulgarian was among the first Cyrillic languages to develop) to express their ideas, but that overshadows the ultra-accessible melodicism contained within.

Lead single “Ghosts” encases a kaleidoscopic swirl of Postcard Records jangle, Gary Glitter strut, rave stereophonics, and sing-song jump-rope tunefulness. Shrill synth strings slice through “Predict The Day,” whose distorted beat constantly fends off an encroaching arrangement. The Bulgarian tracks, “Black Cat” and “Kletva,” both take on a ritualistically dark tone — of course, to American ears it conjures the KGB and spy films, so do with that what you will — with the latter getting about as rock as Ladytron can. Maybe they had aid from geography, but they’ve put more distance between themselves and the pack.

Datarock open.

— Steve Forstneger

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly