Ladytron are an electronic music group formed in 1999 in Liverpool, England. The band is composed of Helen Marnie (lead vocals, synthesizers), Mira Aroyo (vocals, synthesizers), Daniel Hunt (synthesizers, guitar) and Reuben Wu (synthesizers). Their sound can be described as electropop mixed with new wave and shoegaze elements. They took their name from the song "Ladytron" by Roxy Music. According to Brian Eno, once a Roxy Music member, Ladytron are "the best of English pop music".
Liverpool-based producers and DJs Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu met in the late 1990s. Using the moniker Ladytron, they recorded the debut single "He Took Her to a Movie" 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 Helen Marnie (born in Glasgow, Scotland) and Mira Aroyo (born in Sofia, Bulgaria), through mutual friends. Marnie and Aroyo joined the band as vocalists and keyboard players.
Previously, Daniel Hunt founded the record label Invicta Hi-Fi and a nightclub. 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 Bachelor of Arts in pop music. Mira was a postgraduate research geneticist in the Oxford University's Biochemistry department.
In 1999, the group issued the EP Miss Black and Her Friends in Japan only, followed by Mu-Tron EP in 2000.
In 2001, Ladytron released their critically acclaimed debut album, 604 on Emperor Norton/Invicta Hi-Fi. The album has been written mostly by Daniel Hunt and co-produced by him and Lance Thomas. 604 included some of the tracks previously released on their first two EPs. 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/Telstar. This album was co-produced by the band and Mickey Petralia in Los Angeles. Light & Magic featured a darker sound than their debut. The album spawned three underground hits, "Seventeen", "Evil", and "Blue Jeans". They toured over a year to support this album.
In 7 October 2003, they issued the mix compilation Softcore Jukebox. The compilation includes songs of other artists selected by the band and also two of their own songs, the single remix of "Blue Jeans" renamed "Blue Jeans 2.0" and the cover "Oops Oh My" by Tweet. 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 co-produced by the band and Jim Abbiss. Witching Hour featured live drums and guitars mixed with their trademark sound. This album was very well received by critics and fans. It was supported by the singles "Sugar" and "Destroy Everything You Touch". The single "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, Wu, Hunt and Aroyo also played DJ sets around the world.
Along their career, Ladytron have produced remixes for many artists, including Dave Gahan, Goldfrapp, Placebo, Blondie, Bloc Party, Kings of Convenience, Gang of Four, She Wants Revenge, Soulwax, Nine Inch Nails, Simian, Indochine and Apoptygma Berzerk. Ladytron were 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 album, Velocifero. The album was recorded in Paris, with the band handling production duties with Alessandro Cortini (Modwheelmood, Nine Inch Nails, SONOIO) and Vicarious Bliss (Justice, DJ Mehdi). Their sound evolved to an even more organic sound and harsher beats. The band states that "velocifero" literally means "bringer of speed" and is also the name of a classic retro styled scooter. The album spawned three singles, "Ghosts", "Runaway" and "Tomorrow".
In 2009, Ladytron 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. They also 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, the band issued their first live album entitled Live at London Astoria 16.07.08, followed by the remix compilations 604 (Remixed and Rare), Light & Magic (Remixed and Rare), Witching Hour (Remixed and Rare) and Velocifero (Remixed and Rare). In the same year, the band wrote and produced two songs for Christina Aguilera's album Bionic: "Birds of Prey" and "Little Dreamer".
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 issued the digital EP Ace of Hz, which includes the album mix plus 5 remixes.
In 28 March 2011 (UK)/29 March 2011 (US), Ladytron released the compilation Best of 00-10 on Nettwerk. It featured 17 tracks on standard edition and 33 tracks on deluxe edition (plus a 80 pages booklet). They also issued the remix compilation Best of Remixes and the iTunes video compilation Best of 00-10 Videos.
In 12 September 2011 (UK)/13 September 2011 (US), they released the fifth studio album, Gravity The Seducer, on Nettwerk. The album was recorded in Kent's countryside and it was produced by the band and Barny Barnicott (Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Editors). 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".
Gravity the Seducer has been preceded by the single "White Elephant", issued on 17 May 2011. The band premiered another song, "Ambulances", in 16 June 2011, followed by "Mirage" in 8 August 2011. To support the album, Ladytron toured in North and South America.
Official site: http://www.ladytron.com
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