[ Music Index | Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]

Spring Music Guide 2003 Ladytron Support: Simian, Mount Sims Date: April 27. 8pm. $18. Bimbo's 365 Club, 1025 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, 415.474.0365 Current Album: Light & Magic (2002, Emperor Norton) Vitals: Electronic Euro-pop brought back to very stylish zombie-dance-party life Breakthrough: "Open Your Heart" (2000) Current Single: "Blue Jeans" Interpol remix (2003) Scouting Report: When this Liverpool foursome came together in 1998, the resurgence of New Wave exuded the smell of a kitsch art project. While some would argue that most of it still does, Ladytron has exhibited more staying power than its pop-wink image implies. The band kicked off its discography with a synth-happy single ("Open Your Heart") on March Records' paean to the Human League, and it hasn't looked back since. Ladytron's 2001 release, 604, helped inspire the stateside underground Euro-trash dance scene, and 2002's Light & Magic was named one of Rolling Stone's 50 best albums of the year. Considering its emo-styled black hair, eight-track analog sound and youth-revolution lyrics ("Seventeen," "Playgirl"), one might be tempted to lump Ladytron in with bauble pop like WIT and Chicks on Speed, but this is one robot band that has long-lasting batteries. (TV) Send a letter to the editor about this story to letters@metronews.com. [ Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]