Their lyrics aren't particularly deep, the vocals aren't exactly showing a wide range of pitch or even emotion, originality between songs is mostly lacking, and though the backing is pretty boss, the main melodies are on the verge of being nursery rhymes....
... and yet I adore this band, with their smooth and entrancing synth, simple lyrics sung with Helen Marnie's silky enticing northern/scottish accent.
I can't shake the idea that I'm listening to low quality barely thought out music, but I also can't shake the idea that anyone's trying to sell me on them either.
They just put out these WYHIWYG songs, and there's this sense of raw honesty to their bleak and bland style that really jams with me.
Music without pretense, subtext, or reference. Just music. I love it.
One of my all-time favorite groups - wild to see them come up as a random question lol. You're right, they're just ... Cozy. And have always just kinda done what they've done.
They're very comfortable to listen to, partly because they don't have much variety. 604 has most of their best songs (imo) Discotraxx, Another Breakfast with You, Playgirl, and Ladybird are all great, slightly sad sounding.
Heard the simlish version of "Ghosts" in the Sims 2 years ago and was completely obsessed with their music for a while lmfao, that one and "Seventeen" still hold a special place in my heart.
Never heard them before either, but as soon as I did, I immediately knew that this would be on the Nettwerk label.
In my book that's a mark of quality.
Oh man, what a blast from the past. I love Ladytron. Discovered them during my more hardcore goth club years in my twenties. Still listen to them when I can.
Oh 100% I just discovered them from goth club djs :) They were very popular beginning of the century around here but I do think they're one of the bands that go beyond that.
I was unaware thst they were still active though so thanks for your post because I got some listening to do!
I haven't thought of this band in years, and just yesterday I was thinking 'what was that shite gig my mate dragged me to in Liverpool about 20 years ago?'
Very odd to see a post about them the very next day.
My mate thought they were great but I just didn't get it. Their music seemed really bland and uninspiring. Just non-descript songs one after the other. Usually I leave a gig with some lyrics or chords or something sticking with me. Not with Ladytron. I felt... nothing, nothing but relief it was over. It was just some below average synthpop. There was nothing I'd call a hit, or in any way memorable. It stands out as one of the worst gigs I've ever been to, perhaps the worst (and I've seen Van Morrison arrive over an hour late and play obscure tracks for 45 mins whilst obviously drunk). Each to their own, but deffo not for me.
I purchased the album on compact disc when it was released. I remember getting it from the general store, where Mr. Willoughby would sell penny candy to us kids for a ha'penny if he was in a good mood. Then we ran down the road, rolling our hoops with our sticks. That was the day I got my first tricorn hat.
Also, I realise someone released a parody of them before they were properly popular. This is a show called Look Around You which had a segment which tried to predict what music in the year 2000 was going to sound like: