Ladytron: Paradises

"Ladytron willed themselves into existence some 25 years ago, writing their names in the residue of icy-hot heroes like Kraftwerk, Soft Cell, and Gina X. They insisted on brewing up ever-wilder stuff, seizing on the body-blow impact of industrial and shoegaze, the apocalyptic futurism of Detroit techno, the decadence of Italo disco-in a body of work far stronger and stranger than anyone expected."

"For their next trick, they've dropped the dark throb that powered 2023's Time's Arrow and found something far sunnier. Paradises fades the lasers and the fog machines, to better see that afternoon light angling through the trees."

"'Hearts of fire,' the song goes, unveil natural desires: 'They seek the secret life of reeds/Translucent leaves that breathe.' The new mood is somewhere between Adonis and William Blake."

"'Evergreen' might tell the story of cruising for sex among the pine needles, and its bongo-y wandering, and especially its pitch-shifting ending, really captures that moment of anticipation and attraction when nature seems to obey only its own mysterious rules."

Ladytron has been influential for 25 years, drawing inspiration from various genres like industrial, techno, and Italo disco. Their latest album, 'Paradises', shifts from darker themes to a brighter sound, featuring tracks like 'Secret Dreams of Thieves' and 'Evergreen'. These songs explore themes of desire and nature, maintaining a gothic undertone. The band's evolution is marked by their ability to remain relevant and impactful, with connections to contemporary artists and a legacy that continues to resonate in modern music.

Read at Pitchfork