Ladytron released seven studio albums so far: 604 (2001), Light & Magic (2002), Witching Hour (2005), Velocifero (2008), Gravity the Seducer (2011) , Ladytron (2019) and Time's Arrow (2023). They also issued the live album Live at London Astoria 16.07.08 (2009), the compilation album Best of 00-10 (2011), and the EPs Miss Black and Her Friends (1999), Commodore Rock (2000), Mu-Tron EP (2000), Extended Play (2006), The Harmonium Sessions (2006), Ace of Hz EP (2011). Their sound is usually described as electropop mixed with new wave and shoegaze influences.
Liverpool-based producers and DJs Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu met in the 1990s. Hunt was the founder of the indie record label Invicta Hi-Fi and of a nightclub. Wu trained in Industrial Design at Sheffield Hallam University and graduated in 1997. He became an industrial designer at Team Consulting Limited until 2002.
Using the moniker Ladytron, taken from the song "Ladytron" by Roxy Music, Hunt and Wu 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 July 1999 and gained positive reviews.
In the summer of 1999, Hunt and Wu met Helen Marnie (born in 1978 in Glasgow, Scotland) and Mira Aroyo (born in 1977 in Sofia, Bulgaria). Marnie and Aroyo joined Ladytron as vocalists and keyboard players. Marnie studied music at the University of Liverpool where she received a Bachelor of Arts in pop music in 1999. Aroyo was a postgraduate research geneticist in the Oxford University's Biochemistry department.
In December 1999, Ladytron issued the EP Miss Black and Her Friends in Japan only. It was followed in June 2000 by the EP Commodore Rock and in October 2000 by Mu-Tron EP. All the songs from these EPs, except "Miss Black" and "Olivetti Jerk", were later included on their debut studio album. "He Took Her to a Movie", Mu-Tron EP, "The Way That I Found You", were all selected as NME "Single of the Week".
In 6 February 2001, Ladytron released their critically acclaimed debut album, 604 on Emperor Norton (US). The album was also released in 26 March 2001 on Labels (Germany) and in 2 April 2001 on Invicta Hi-Fi (UK). It was re-released in 20 July 2004 on Emperor Norton (US) and in 14 January 2011 (Germany)/18 January 2011 (US)/24 January (UK) on Nettwerk.
604 has been written mostly by Daniel Hunt and co-produced by him and Lance Thomas. Three singles supported the album's promotion: "He Took Her to a Movie", "Playgirl", and "The Way That I Found You".
Also in 2001, Ladytron covered The Human League' song "Open Your Heart" for the compilation album Reproductions: Songs of The Human League. Until 2004, the band wore uniforms on stage. Daniel Hunt stated in 2001 that their uniforms were inspired by the SF movie The Andromeda Strain. In an interview from 2002, Hunt also said that the meaning of 604 album title is the area code for British Columbia.
In 17 September 2002, Ladytron released their sophomore album Light & Magic at Emperor Norton (US) and Telstar (UK). The album was also released in 7 April 2003 at Warner Music (Germany) and in 21 June 2003 at Victor Entertainment (Japan). It was re-released in 20 July 2004 on Emperor Norton (US) and in 14 January 2011 (Germany)/18 January 2011 (US)/24 January 2011 (UK) on Nettwerk.
Light & Magic was co-produced by the band and Mickey Petralia in Los Angeles. The album featured a darker sound than their debut and 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 on Emperor Norton. 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. In 2004, they played a series of shows in China as part of an exhibition tour set up by the British Council.
In 3 October 2005, Ladytron released their third studio album Witching Hour on Island (UK). The album was also released in 4 October 2005 on Universal Music (Germany) and Rykodisc (US). It was re-released in 5 April 2007 on Major (Germany), in 5 November 2007 on So Sweet (UK), in 18 January 2011 (US)/24 January 2011 (UK) on Nettwerk.
Witching Hour was co-produced by the band and Jim Abbiss. The album 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.
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 that included a 27 minutes documentary titled Once Upon a Time in the East: Ladytron in China based on their short 2004 tour in China. In the same year Ladytron recorded The Harmonium Sessions, which contained four reworked songs from Witching Hour.
Without any real label support, Ladytron toured exhaustively over the next two years, on the strength of their cult following. They played in North America, Europe, and South America. They also opened for Nine Inch Nails in early 2007 at the request of Trent Reznor.
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.
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 6 April 2009, Nettwerk issued the remix compilation Velocifero (Remixed & Rare). In the same year, the band self-released their first live album entitled Live at London Astoria 16.07.08. They also co-wrote and produced the songs "Birds of Prey" and "Little Dreamer" for Christina Aguilera. These songs featured on her 2010 album Bionic.
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.
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, 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, 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 the song "Ambulances", in 16 June 2011. It was followed by the single "Mirage" in 8 August 2011.
On 20 December 2011, Nettwerk issued the remix compilations 604 (Remixed & Rare), Light & Magic (Remixed & Rare), Witching Hour (Remixed & Rare).
Using the stage name of Marnie, Helen Marnie started in 2012 a solo career. She self-released her debut solo album Crystal World on 11 June 2013. The album was produced in 2012 in Reykjavik, Iceland by her band mate Daniel Hunt in collaboration with the Icelandic musician Barði Jóhannsson.
Touring:
There have been six main Ladytron tours: 604 tour (2001), Light & Magic tour (2002–2004), Witching Hour tour (2005–2007), Velocifero tour (2008–2009), Best of 00-10 tour (2011), and Gravity the Seducer tour (2011) and Time's Arrow tour (2023). During the years, they toured in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Australia.
The band played at various music festivals like La Route du Rock 2001, Reading Festival 2001, Festival Internacional de Benicàssim 2001 and 2005, Coachella Festival 2003 and 2006, Hultsfred Festival 2003, Arvikafestivalen 2003 and 2006, Lowlands Festival 2003, Dot-to-Dot Festival 2005, Pukkelpop 2005, Exit Festival 2005, Creamfields 2007, Electric Picnic 2007, Bonnaroo Festival 2008, Ruisrock Festival 2009, Traffic Festival 2009, Standon Calling Festival 2009, Electrosonic Festival 2009, Ping Gu Valley Festival 2011, Donaufestival 2011, Selector Festival 2011, Hegyalja Festival 2011, Decibel Festival 2011, DeLuna Fest 2011, Zouk Festival 2011.
Since Light & Magic tour, Ladytron started to tour extensively and to add touring members to play live bass and drums. Previous touring members include Pop Levi (bass during Light & Magic tour), Andrea Goldsworthy (bass during Witching Hour tour), and Keith York (drums during Light & Magic tour and Witching Hour tour).
Bands to open for Ladytron on their tours include Simian, The Presets, Client, Phaser, CSS, Asobi Seksu, Mount Sims, Crocodiles, Franz Ferdinand, SONOIO, VHS or Beta and Geographer.
Ladytron have opened for other artists like Soulwax on their UK tour in 2001, Björk in 2003, and Goldfrapp in 2006. In early 2007, they opened for Nine Inch Nails on their European tour, at the invitation of Trent Reznor. In 2009, Ladytron and The Faint co-headlined a North American tour.
Official site: www.ladytron.com
The Mountain
Ladytron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Air was clear, sun was shining
All we could see was silver
And so we started thinking
Then when we came off the mountain
All of the lanes were static
All expressions were frozen
Over each other's traffic
Streets filled with different people
All of them tired and distant
Some of them tried to know us
We had carried our instruments
And hid behind our features
Laughed and joked and hoped that they'd have
They'd have something to show us
At sea in the cities
Alien in the suburbs
Adrift on peripheries
Wake up back on the mountain
At sea in the cities
Alien in the suburbs
Adrift on peripheries
Wake up back on the mountain
We went back to the mountain
They spoke a different language
A mess of walls and fences
The mountain we created
Our faces amongst the landed
Except that we were nameless
Only inherited stories
Since we fell off the mountain
Then the mountain came between us
And took away the buildings
We were the half-remembered
The only two remaining
Then we knew we were the mountain
You said "I'll do this for you"
Covered what we had broken
Forgot about the mountain
At sea in the cities
Alien in the suburbs
Adrift on peripheries
Wake up back on the mountain
At sea in the cities
Alien in the suburbs
Adrift on peripheries
Wake up back on the mountain
At sea in the cities
Alien in the suburbs
Adrift on peripheries
Wake up back on the mountain
At sea in the cities
Alien in the suburbs
Adrift on peripheries
Wake up back on the mountain
At sea in the cities
Alien in the suburbs
Adrift on peripheries
Wake up back on the mountain
At sea in the cities
Alien in the suburbs
Adrift on peripheries
Wake up back on the mountain
At sea in the cities
Alien in the suburbs
Adrift on peripheries
Wake up back on the mountain
At sea in the cities
Alien in the suburbs
Adrift on peripheries
Wake up back on the mountain
At sea in the cities
Alien in the suburbs
Adrift on peripheries
Wake up back on the mountain
At sea in the cities
Alien in the suburbs
Adrift on peripheries
Wake up back on the mountain
The lyrics to Ladytron's The Mountain seem to describe a journey or a series of journeys taken by the singer and possibly another person. They begin on a mountain, where the air is clear and the sun is shining, and all they can see is silver. They then come down from the mountain and find themselves in the midst of a city, where everything seems static and frozen, and the people around them are tired and distant. The lyrics repeat this pattern, with the singer and their companion moving between the mountain and the city, feeling alienated and adrift in the urban landscape.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the mountain is a symbolic space for the singer, a place where they can create and escape the confines of the city. They take their instruments up the mountain, where they can hide behind their features and connect with each other. However, when they come back down from the mountain, they find themselves unable to connect with the people around them.
Towards the end of the song, the mountain takes on a new meaning - it becomes something that the singer and their companion have created together, a space where they can rebuild what they have broken, and forget about the city for a while. Ultimately, the lyrics suggest that the mountain is a space of possibility and freedom, where the singer and their companion can escape the constraints of the urban landscape and create something together.
Line by Line Meaning
We woke up on the mountain
We've just had an epiphany and can see everything clearly now
Air was clear, sun was shining
Everything is perfect and beautiful at this moment
All we could see was silver
We see the world through a new exciting perspective
And so we started thinking
Our minds are full of new ideas and thoughts
Then when we came off the mountain
Our perspective has now changed and we've returned to reality
All of the lanes were static
Everything is back to normal and boring
All expressions were frozen
People are unresponsive and dull
Over each other's traffic
Everyone is wrapped up in their own world and not paying attention to each other
Second time the dusk was setting
We were disappointed to find the same reality as before
Streets filled with different people
We encountered new people who are strangers to us
All of them tired and distant
People are unfriendly and uninterested in getting to know us
Some of them tried to know us
A few people reached out to us to try and connect
We had carried our instruments
We have our talents and creativity with us
And hid behind our features
We're using our abilities to mask our true selves
Laughed and joked and hoped that they'd have
We tried to charm those around us and hope to connect with someone
They'd have something to show us
We're looking for inspiration from others
We went back to the mountain
Returning to the mountain symbolizes returning to our newfound clarity
They spoke a different language
We are disconnected and cannot communicate with others
A mess of walls and fences
It's hard to navigate through society's barriers
The mountain we created
We've created a new perspective and way of viewing the world
Our faces amongst the landed
We're among others but still feel isolated
Except that we were nameless
Our newfound perspective has left us feeling like we don't fit in with society's expectations
Only inherited stories
We're fed up with society's expectations and want to create something new
Since we fell off the mountain
Our new perspective has not lasted forever
Then the mountain came between us
Our newfound ideas and thoughts have created a rift between us and society
And took away the buildings
Our new perspective has made us question the structures of society
We were the half-remembered
Society is forgetful of those who don't fit in with its expectations
The only two remaining
We feel like we're the only ones who see society with a different perspective
Then we knew we were the mountain
Our new perspective has completely changed our identity to the point where we are the mountain, not society
You said "I'll do this for you"
Someone else has offered to help us and support our new perspective
Covered what we had broken
Our new perspective has caused us to question and dismantle the structures of society
Forgot about the mountain
We're back to living within society's norms and expectations
At sea in the cities
We're lost in the overwhelming nature of city life
Alien in the suburbs
We feel like we don't belong in the outside living of the suburbs
Adrift on peripheries
We're stuck on the fringes of society, unsure of our place
Wake up back on the mountain
We have gone back to our new perspective and identity, but it feels like a dream
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Hunt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
oiesen2112
Helen has such a warm, cool, ghostly tone to her voice.
Samuel Jephcote
Such a great band I found at last Their music is just unique
GryndStone
I wish this got a music video. I can see it in my head, it would be amazing
Stefania Czech
I love a magical haunting Ladytron tune. Back on the mountain. 🎶
Волчара Сучара
this is one of their best soul lyrics
🤩
Emil Söderlund
Can’t understand how I missed this song, imagine hearing it for the first time, like me - right now, wow what an eargasm ❤❤
Daniel Tello
This Band Is One Of The Best Things That Ever Happened In My Life!!!! I Look Forward To The Next Day Knowing That LADYTRON Has Music To Inspire My Next Move!!!🎶🔥❤️💞🌹🎵
Michael O'neill
It is one of best albums of all time
анна ошвинцева
Great music!
Michael O'neill
What a great song I love it❤