Helen Marnie and Mira Aroyo have guided Ladytron through decades of change. The band's sound, originally pitched as a sort of retro-influenced confection like the tunes of Stereolab and Ivy, has not changed too much since the Liverpool group's first appearance years ago. And here, in 2023, with their new one, Time's Arrow, the band's vibes are more assured and confident than ever.
Opener "City of Angels" is full of washes of keyboard, providing an enveloping sound that's familiar, while "Faces" is more sleek New Wave, the icy cool hooks anchoring this in the ear with ease. Elsewhere, "We Never Went Away" strides in, a rhythmic winner and a catchy highlight of Time's Arrow. That one and "The Dreamers" remind a listener just how adept this band is at finding an emotive path through slick electronic terrain. With the exception of Nineties Depeche Mode, there's no other act I can think of who are so good at bringing this much heart to material this dependent on keyboards, samples, and the like. Judged on that level, Time's Arrow is remarkably consistent, with the closing title cut adding yet another classic number to these musicians' arsenal.
Time's Arrow by Ladytron is out now.
[Photo: Wendy Redfern]