The return of Ladytron is always good to hear. The Liverpool band were pioneers of a kind of throwback synth-pop in the Nineties and after. Their brand of indie owed as much to Roxy Music as it did to O.M.D., for example, but the tunes of this outfit were distinctive. There was stark beauty and dark vibes in their best numbers. "City of Angels", their new single, is more of that.
A taster of their 2023 album Time's Arrow, "City of Angels" is sleek and supple. The surfaces here are shiny, but the melodic hooks are pure pop. While this is Art Rock-like in its auserity, the hook here is fairly big, and the tune lodges in the brain instantly and easily. I can't wait to hear the rest of the record, out in January on Cooking Vinyl.
"City of Angels" is out now. Time's Arrow will be out in early 2023.
More details on Ladytron via Ladytron.com.
[Photo: Wendy Redfern]