Ladytron

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Biography

Ladytron are an English electronic music|electronic band formed in Liverpool in 1999. The band consists of Helen Marnie (lead vocals, synthesizers), Mira Aroyo (vocals, synthesizers), Daniel Hunt (synthesizers, electric guitar, vocals) and Reuben Wu (synthesizers).

Their sound blends electropop with New Wave music|New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop". They focused on a balance between pop structures and experimental sounds. Some of the group's songs performed by Aroyo contain lyrics written in her native Bulgarian language|Bulgarian .

They have released five studio albums so far: 604 (album)|604 (2001), Light & Magic (2002), Witching Hour (2005), Velocifero (2008) and Gravity the Seducer (2011).

Their name was taken from the song " Ladytron (song)|Ladytron " by Roxy Music . According to Brian Eno , once a member of Roxy Music, Ladytron are "the best of English pop music".

History

Early years

Liverpool|Liverpudlian producers and DJs Daniel Hunt (musician)|Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu met in the 1990s. Hunt also founded the indie record label Invicta Hi-Fi and a nightclub. Wu trained in Industrial Design at Sheffield Hallam University and graduated in 1997. He became an industrial designer at Team Consulting Limited, until finally going full time with the band around 2002.

Using the moniker Ladytron, they recorded the debut single " He Took Her to a Movie " for £ 50 with the guest vocalist Lisa Eriksson, who later formed the band Techno Squirrels . "He Took Her to a Movie" was released in 1999 and became NME Single of the Week.

In the summer of 1999, Hunt and Wu met the Scottish student Helen Marnie through various DJ gigs, and the Bulgarian student Mira Aroyo through a mutual friend. Marnie and Aroyo joined the band as vocalists and keyboardists. Helen Marnie studied music at the University of Liverpool where she received a Bachelor of Arts in pop music in 1999. Mira Aroyo was a postgraduate research geneticist in the Oxford University's Biochemistry department.

1999–2001: 604

In 1999, Ladytron issued the EP Miss Black and Her Friends in Japan only, followed a year later by Mu-Tron EP . All the songs from these EPs, except "Miss Black", were later included on their first full-length album. In 2001, Ladytron covered The Human League ' song " Open Your Heart (The Human League song)|Open Your Heart " for the compilation album Reproductions: Songs of The Human League .

In 6 February 2001, they released the debut album 604 (album)|604 on the Emperor Norton /Invicta Hi-Fi labels. The album has been written mostly by Daniel Hunt and co-produced by him and Lance Thomas. The singles released from this album were " He Took Her to a Movie ", " Playgirl (Ladytron song)|Playgirl ", " Commodore Rock " and " The Way That I Found You ". The single " Playgirl (Ladytron song)|Playgirl " brought some national and international attention to the band.

Until 2004, the band wore uniforms on stage. In 2001, Daniel Hunt stated that their uniforms and the 604 (album)|604 album title were inspired by the science fiction|SF movie The Andromeda Strain (film)|The Andromeda Strain .

During the early years, they were labeled as electroclash by some music journalists, but they rejected this tag.

In 2001, Ladytron performed at the music festivals La Route du Rock in France and Festival Internacional de Benicàssim|Benicàssim in Spain. In 5 December 2001, they performed four songs for Radio 1's List_of_Peel_sessions#L|John Peel Show : "Zmeyka", "Holiday 601", "Another Breakfast With You", "Discotraxx".

2002–03: Light & Magic

Their second album Light & Magic was released in 17 September 2002 on Emperor Norton / Telstar labels. The album featured a darker sound than their previous album. It was written and produced in Los Angeles by the band and co-produced by Mickey Petralia.

Light & Magic included the underground hits " Seventeen (Ladytron song)|Seventeen ", " Blue Jeans (Ladytron song)|Blue Jeans " and " Evil (Ladytron song)|Evil ".

They toured over a year to support the album. On 4 December 2002, Ladytron returned to List of Peel sessions#L|John Peel Show .

In 7 October 2003, they issued the mix compilation Softcore Jukebox . Besides the songs of other artists, the compilation also includes two of their own songs, the single remix of " Blue Jeans (Ladytron song)|Blue Jeans " renamed "Blue Jeans 2.0" and a cover of Tweet (singer)|Tweet 's " Oops (Oh My) ". The cover art appears to be a homage to Roxy Music 's Country Life (Roxy Music album)|Country Life .

2004–07: Witching Hour

Ladytron released their critically acclaimed third studio album, Witching Hour , in 3 October 2005 on Island Records|Island label. This album was recorded in 2004 and it was co-produced by the band and Jim Abbiss . Witching Hour featured Pop Levi on bass, http://www.abc.net.au/rage/archive/s2045308.htm live drum s by Keith York and electric guitar s mixed with their trademark sound. Pitchfork Media described it as a "quantum leap record".

Witching Hour was supported by the singles " Sugar (Ladytron song)|Sugar " and " Destroy Everything You Touch ". The single " Destroy Everything You Touch " () became the band's best known song.

The group took to the road on the strength of their cult following, booking sold-out tours across North America and Europe, and playing for capacity crowds in China and Latin America. Without any real label support, Ladytron toured exhaustively over the next two years. In early 2007, they also opened for the European shows of Nine Inch Nails , at the invitation of Trent Reznor .

In 2006 saw the light Extended Play (Ladytron album)|Extended Play , a two-disc EP CD/DVD compilation that features exclusive unreleased remixes and UK B-sides, as well as a 35-minute bonus DVD. In the same year Ladytron recorded The Harmonium Sessions , which contained four songs from their third studio album, performed unplugged.

2008–09: Velocifero

In 2 June 2008, Ladytron released their fourth album Velocifero on Nettwerk . The album featured a heavier sound and it was recorded in Paris , with the band handling production duties with Alessandro Cortini ( Modwheelmood , Nine Inch Nails , SONOIO ) and Vicarious Bliss ( Justice (band)|Justice , DJ Mehdi ). The band stated that "velocifero" literally means "bringer of speed" and is also the name of a classic retro styled scooter (motorcycle)|scooter .

The album spawned three singles: " Ghosts (Ladytron song)|Ghosts ", " Runaway (Ladytron song)|Runaway " and " Tomorrow (Ladytron song)|Tomorrow ". In mid 2008, the group composed three exclusive tracks for the Sims 3 game soundtrack: "Rockfalls & Estuaries", "She Stepped Out of the Car" and "Young Etruscians". These songs were performed in Simlish .

In 2009, Ladytron toured North America with The Faint , and performed two special shows with Brian Eno at the Sydney Opera House . In the same year they announced that they will be the opening act for Depeche Mode on few concerts in Eastern Europe, but these concerts were cancelled due to Dave Gahan 's illness.

Also in 2009, Nettwerk issued the remix compilations 604 (album)#604 (Remixed & Rare)|604 (Remixed & Rare) , Light & Magic#Light & Magic (Remixed & Rare)|Light & Magic (Remixed & Rare) , Witching Hour#Witching Hour (Remixed & Rare)|Witching Hour (Remixed & Rare) and Velocifero#Velocifero (Remixed & Rare)|Velocifero (Remixed & Rare) . In the same year, Ladytron self released their first live album Live at London Astoria 16.07.08 . They also wrote and produced two songs for Christina Aguilera 's album Bionic (Christina Aguilera album)|Bionic : "Birds of Prey" and "Little Dreamer".

2010–11: Best of 00–10

The soundtrack of the video game FIFA 11 included a new Ladytron song, " Ace of Hz ", which was released as digital single on 30 November 2010. In 11 January 2011, the band issued a digital EP of " Ace of Hz ", which contained the album mix plus 5 remixes.

In 28 March 2011, it was released the compilation Best of 00–10 , featuring 17 tracks on standard edition and 33 tracks on deluxe edition, plus a 80 page booklet. Both editions included two new tracks, " Ace of Hz " and a cover version of Death In June 's "Little Black Angel".

Also in 2011, Nettwerk reissued all their previous albums and released the remix compilation Best of 00-10#Best of Remixes|Best of Remixes . They released the iTunes video compilation Best of 00–10 Videos which included nine music videos for the singles " Playgirl (Ladytron song)|Playgirl ", " Blue Jeans (Ladytron song)|Blue Jeans ", " Seventeen (Ladytron song)|Seventeen ", " Sugar (Ladytron song)|Sugar ", " Destroy Everything You Touch ", " Ghosts (Ladytron song)|Ghosts ", " Runaway (Ladytron song)|Runaway ", " Tomorrow (Ladytron song)|Tomorrow " and " Ace of Hz ". http://www.myspace.com/ladytron/blog/542898410

During April 2011 and July 2011, Ladytron performed live in Austria , China , Russia , Finland , Sweden , Poland , UK , Ireland , Hungary and Spain .

2011–present: Gravity the Seducer

Their fifth studio album, Gravity the Seducer , was released in the United Kingdom on 12 September 2011 and in the United States on 13 September 2011. The album was recorded in Kent 's countryside and it was produced by the band and Barny Barnicott ( Arctic Monkeys , Kasabian , Editors ). http://nettskinny.com/story/20110404/ladytron-announces-studio-album-gravity-seducer-set-release-sept-13th Daniel Hunt said " Gravity the Seducer is more of a jump than the last album was, more ethereal and melodic, a touch more abstract in places than we've gone before, baroque 'n' roll".

"Ace of Hz", which appears on the album, was previously released as a single from the band's greatest hits compilation Best of 00–10 . The first single from Gravity the Seducer , " White Elephant (Ladytron song)|White Elephant ", was issued on 17 May 2011 and its accompanying video was posted on YouTube on 26 July 2011. The band premiered another song, "Ambulances", in 16 June 2011. The second single, " Mirage (Ladytron song)|Mirage ", was released on 8 August 2011. Its music video was posted on YouTube on 11 November 2011.

During September 2011 and December 2011, the band toured in USA , Mexico , Canada , Brazil , Chile , Thailand and Indonesia . For the concerts in North America , Ladytron were supported by SONOIO , VHS or Beta and Geographer.

Ladytron will contribute music to Occupy This Album: A Compilation of Music By, For and Inspired by the Occupy Wall Street Movement and the 99% , set for release Winter 2011-2012. http://www.nettskinny.com/story/20111130/uk-based-ladytron-contributes-music-occupy-album-compilation-inspired-occupy-wall-str

Touring

Ladytron have toured extensively since the release of their second album, Light & Magic . Daniel Hunt, Mira Aroyo and Reuben Wu also play DJ sets in clubs and events around the world.

Bands to open for Ladytron on their tours include Simian (band)|Simian , The Presets , Client (band)|Client , CSS (band)|CSS , Asobi Seksu , Mount Sims , Crocodiles (band)|Crocodiles , Franz Ferdinand , SONOIO , VHS or Beta and Geographer.

Ladytron have opened for other artists like Soulwax on their UK tour in 2001, Björk in 2003, and Goldfrapp in 2006. In early 2007, they opened for Nine Inch Nails on their European tour, at the invitation of Trent Reznor . In 2009, Ladytron and The Faint co-headlined a North American tour.

Their current live gear consists of Korg Delta played by Helen Marnie , Korg MS-20 played by Mira Aroyo , Minimoog Voyager played by Reuben Wu , Crumar Stratus played by Daniel Hunt and a drum kit played by a tour drummer who is currently Billy 'Biw' Brown.

Previous live band members include the bassist Andrea Goldsworthy and the drummer Keith York .

Remixing

Ladytron have produced remixes for many artists, including David Gahan , Goldfrapp , Apoptygma Berzerk , Placebo (band)|Placebo , Blondie (band)|Blondie , Bonde do Rolê , Gang of Four (band)|Gang of Four , Natalia Kills , Christina Aguilera (remix by Reuben Wu), Bloc Party , Kings of Convenience , Indochine (band)|Indochine , She Wants Revenge , Simian (band)|Simian , Nine Inch Nails , SONOIO and Soulwax .

Discography

604 (album)|604 (2001)

Light & Magic (2002)

Witching Hour (2005)

Velocifero (2008)

Gravity the Seducer (2011)

Song usage

Many Ladytron songs featured on various film , video game|game and advertising|ad soundtrack s.

Song	Production	Type	Year
" Ace of Hz "	FIFA 11	game	2010
"Burning Up"	Fringe	tv series	2008
" Destroy Everything You Touch "	2006 FIFA World Cup	game	2006
	Smiley Face	film	2007
	One Missed Call	film	2008
	Mammoth	film	2009
	The September Issue	film	2009
"Discotraxx"	Balls of Steel	tv series	2005
"Discotraxx"	Plague Town	film	2008
"Fighting in Built Up Areas"	Need For Speed: Carbon	game	2006
" Ghosts (Ladytron song)	Need For Speed: Undercover	game	2008
	The Sims 3	game	2009
	LittleBigPlanet 2	game	2011
"International Dateline"	Mammoth	film	2009
"Mu-Tron"	August	film	2008
Playgirl "	Picture Claire	film	2001
"Rockfalls & Estuaries"	The Sims 3	game	2009
Runaway "	FIFA 09	game	2009
" Seventeen (Ladytron song)	Party Monster	film	2003
" Seventeen (Ladytron song)	Inspire fragrance advertising	ad	2008
"She Stepped Out of the Car"	The Sims 3	game	2009
Sugar " (Jagz Kooner Remix)	Need For Speed: Carbon	game	2006
"Versus"	Mammoth	film	2009
"Young Etruscians"	The Sims 3	game	2009

Copyright Citations

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Ladytron Photo by: www.bbc.co.uk


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