Ladytron

Ladytron are an electronic music group formed in 1999 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. The band is composed of Helen Marnie (vocals, synthesizers), Mira Aroyo (vocals, synthesizers), Reuben Wu (synthesizers), and Daniel Hunt (synthesizers, guitar). All members are involved in songwriting, music production, remixing and (except Marnie) in DJing. They took their name from the song "Ladytron" by Roxy Music. Their ever developing sound blends electropop with new wave and shoegaze elements. In 1999, Liverpool musicians and DJs, Reuben Wu and Daniel Hunt formed Ladytron. In the same year, they collaborated with the singer Lisa Eriksson (future member of techno Squirells) and recorded for 50 pounds the debut single "He Took Her to a Movie". In the summer of 1999, Hunt and Wu met Helen Marnie (born in Glasgow, Scotland) in a club, and later Mira Aroyo (born in Sofia, Bulgaria). According to Daniel, "Helen introduced Mira to the band. It was all quite organic. We didn't put up any adverts. We just met people. We fell over each other at a bar". Previously, Daniel Hunt founded the record label Invicta Hi-Fi. Reuben Wu trained in Industrial Design at Sheffield Hallam University, before becoming a successful designer in a consultancy until finally going full time with the band. Helen studied music at the University of Liverpool where she received a BA in pop music and she has also worked briefly as a fashion model. Mira was a postgraduate research geneticist in the Oxford University's Biochemistry department. In 1999 the group issued an EP entitled Miss Black and Her Friends in Japan only, followed by Commodore Rock EP and Mu-Tron EP in 2000. In 2001 Ladytron released their critically acclaimed debut album, 604 on Emperor Norton/Invicta Hi-Fi. The album was produced by Ladytron and co-produced, engineered and mixed by Lance Thomas. Some of the tracks had been previously released in 1999 on their debut EP. Four singles supported the album: "He Took Her to a Movie", "Playgirl", "Commodore Rock", and "The Way That I Found You". In 17 September 2002, Ladytron released their sophomore album Light & Magic on Emperor Norton/Invicta Hi-Fi. The album was produced by the band in Los Angeles. Light & Magic featured a darker sound and the introduction of digital synths along their analog gear. The album spawned three underground hits: "Seventeen", "Evil", and "Blue Jeans". They toured over a year to support this album. Softcore Jukebox released in 7 October 2003, is a compilation put together by the members of Ladytron and showcases different genres, from alternative rock to hip-hop. It also includes two Ladytron songs: the single remix of "Blue Jeans" renamed "Blue Jeans 2.0" and a cover of Tweet's "Oops Oh My". The cover art appears to be a homage to Roxy Music's Country Life. In 3 October 2005, Ladytron released their third studio album Witching Hour on Island. This album was produced by the band and Jim Abiss. It was described by Pitchfork as a "quantum leap record", featured live drums and buzzy guitars mixed with their trademark sound. Two singles supported the album: "Sugar" and "Destroy Everything You Touch", and additionally in USA by "Weekend" (promo only). Witching Hour is considered by many fans and critics to be Ladytron's best album to date. "Destroy Everything You Touch" became the band's signature song and it's performed live on almost every concert. Their third album was followed in 2006 by 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 reworked songs from their third studio album. The group took to the road on the strength of their massive 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, performing for over 4,000 people in Bogota, Columbia and opening for Nine Inch Nails in early 2007 at the request of Trent Reznor. In meantime, they also managed the club Korova from Liverpool, where they are co-owners. Along their career, Ladytron have produced remixes for many artists, including Placebo, Blondie, Dave Gahan, Goldfrapp, Bloc Party, Kings of Convenience, Gang of Four, She Wants Revenge, Soulwax, Nine Inch Nails, Simian, Indochine, and Apoptygma Berzerk. The band was influenced by artists like Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, The Human League, New Order, My Bloody Valentine. In 2 June 2008, the group issued on Nettwerk their fourth and most successful album, Velocifero. The album was recorded in Paris, with the band handling production duties with Alessandro Cortini (Modwheelmood, Nine Inch Nails) and Vicarious Bliss (Justice, DJ Mehdi). Their sound evolved to an even more organic sound and harsher beats. Reuben states that "velocifero" literally means "bringer of speed" and is also the name of a classic retro styled scooter. Three singles were released: "Ghosts", "Runaway" and "Tomorrow". In early 2009, Ladytron announced that they were in the studio with Christina Aguilera, writing songs for her new album Bionic. They toured North America with The Faint (co-headline tour), and performed two special shows with Brian Eno at the Sydney Opera House in the summer. 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. In 2009, the band also issued their first live album entitled Live at London Astoria 16.07.08 on iTunes only and later on CD. In 2010, Ladytron released Velocifero (Remixed and Rare). They produced two songs for Christina Aguilera's album Bionic: "Birds of Prey" (on deluxe version of the album) and "Little Dreamer" (iTunes bonus track). The soundtrack of the video game FIFA 11 featured a new Ladytron song, "Ace Of Hz", which was released as digital single on 30 November 2010. In 11 January 2011, the band released Ace of Hz EP in the US. The EP features the "Ace Of Hz" album mix plus 5 remixes from Tiësto, Punks Jump Up, and NYCPARTYINFO. In 28 March 2011 they will release a compilation entitled 00-10. Their fifth studio album will be released in 2011. http://www.ladytron.com User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.