Xmas Albums Calendar, December 4: Ladytron - Velocifero

Tracklist
1. Black Cat (5:08)
2. Ghosts (4:42)
3. I'm Not Scared (3:58)
4. Runaway (4:50)
5. Season Of Illusions (4:01)
6. Burning Up (4:08)
7. Kletva (2:42)
8. They Gave You A Heart, They Gave You A Name (3:28)
9. Predict The Day (4:25)
10. The Lovers (2:38)
11. Deep Blue (5:02)
12. Tomorrow (3:35)
13. Versus (5:43)

Velocifero sounds, gothic and latin at the same time. And I don't mean just the word, the content of Ladytron's fourth album sounds like an equivalent clash between something dark, mystic and sinister and something grand, elegant and well structured. Velocifero means "bringer of speed" and is also the name of a "classic retro styled scooter" according to Wikipedia. Huh. As far as speed goes, Velocifero does not contain it, but perhaps will at least bring it.

Following success of such right-in-time synthpop and electroclash albums as 604, Light & Magic and Witching Hour, Ladytron entered 2008 in the beginning of June with a might heavy comeback album after three year's full-length silence, with production assistance from skilful talents in two camps: Alessandro Cortini of the Nine Inch Nails crew and Vicarious Bliss of the Ed Banger crew. Cortini's old skool industrial dance touch can easily be heard in steely beats and basslines for beginners extended with an exponential function. If Vicarious Bliss' engagement here was to put Ladytron's 80s retro electropop into a hyper-contemporary supafly hip context is unknown and it is hard even for the trained ear to discern any hearable clues of a contribution from the Frenchman. Which means he either failed miserably or did a perfect job as a producer.

Now, Ladytron have always managed to bring the old standards of how electronic pop music and synth revelling should sound like into an own sound that makes perfectly sense in the 00s. And thankfully enough, Velocifero positions itself somewhere inbetween Ed Banger's god only knows how distant hyperconsuming future and the vintage 80s feel, fitting perfectly beside other modern pop music efforts of 2008. It's big, fresh, glamorous, boisterous and ambitious.

How disappointing then, that they have grinded all of their grand ideas in a glossy studio production mill of an industrial type and, most assumedly with red faces and warning lamps flashing, born down a massive piece of epic electrop with more sinister goth characteristics than ever. The wall of sound is longer than the Chinese one and higher than their fantastic gem Destroy Everything You Touch ever soared. Velocifero suffers from being a rich collection of robust classic Ladytron epics that just are more than one could chew. It's like extremely luxurious food - a glittering waste of good food that has become nearly unedible. And Ladytron has turned their cooking habits into a top notch culture of its own. However, I believe it's a matter of slightly exaggerated ambitions more than hybris, which on the other hand would've been sort of deserved and motivated for all its worth.

Sinking from its own enormous weight, Velocifero seems unable to catch any speed, and it keeps marching like an unstoppable bulldozer. It's an impressive and at times a Ladytron-marvelous creation to experience. But few songs stick closely enough to mind besides the haunting and majestic single Ghosts and Black Cat and Kletva which are entirely sung in Bulgarian. Perhaps my brain refuses to pay attention from something of a slower pace in pop than I'm used to. Perhaps Velocifero after all does not make as much of a progression as its two predecessors did. As for now, it stands as a peculiar incredibly large unknown creature in a picturesque electroclash idyll. It fascinates and inspires with awe. But oh so huge and hard to take in at one time. Seldomly moves you or touches you. I've tried letting it sink in for several months now so I can make up my mind and perhaps celebrate the greatness sleeping inside of it. But Velocifero won't budge.

There's a ghost in me.
Who wants to say I'm sorry.
Doesn't mean I'm sorry.

They gave you a name, did they give you a heart, Velocifero?

Ladytron - They Gave You A Heart, They Gave You A Name (ysi)

Christmas tip: Give this to your Gothic friend who you simply don't understand. Perhaps you'll connect better when she learns to appreciate electropop.