this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2025
67 points (89.4% liked)

Asklemmy

45318 readers
2226 users here now

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy πŸ”

If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!

  1. Open-ended question
  2. Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
  3. Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
  4. Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
  5. An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_[email protected]~

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Their lyrics aren't particularly deep, the vocals aren't exactly showing a wide range of pitch or even emotion, originality between songs is mostly lacking, and though the backing is pretty boss, the main melodies are on the verge of being nursery rhymes....

... and yet I adore this band, with their smooth and entrancing synth, simple lyrics sung with Helen Marnie's silky enticing northern/scottish accent.

I can't shake the idea that I'm listening to low quality barely thought out music, but I also can't shake the idea that anyone's trying to sell me on them either.

They just put out these WYHIWYG songs, and there's this sense of raw honesty to their bleak and bland style that really jams with me.

Music without pretense, subtext, or reference. Just music. I love it.

top 34 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] boxfulloffoxes 3 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

One of my all-time favorite groups - wild to see them come up as a random question lol. You're right, they're just ... Cozy. And have always just kinda done what they've done.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 20 hours ago

You’re right, they’re just … Cozy. And have always just kinda done what they’ve done.

And I totally respect it!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

They're very comfortable to listen to, partly because they don't have much variety. 604 has most of their best songs (imo) Discotraxx, Another Breakfast with You, Playgirl, and Ladybird are all great, slightly sad sounding.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

International Dateline has that melancholy too

[–] [email protected] 2 points 22 hours ago

It's a great vibe

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Never heard of them but the cover screams mid to late 90s

*looks up online

Yup, formed in 99

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

Never heard them before either, but as soon as I did, I immediately knew that this would be on the Nettwerk label. In my book that's a mark of quality.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I agree completely with your first paragraph.

I haven't thought of this band in years, and just yesterday I was thinking 'what was that shite gig my mate dragged me to in Liverpool about 20 years ago?'

Very odd to see a post about them the very next day.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

They have a likeable hypnotic quality though

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

My mate thought they were great but I just didn't get it. Their music seemed really bland and uninspiring. Just non-descript songs one after the other. Usually I leave a gig with some lyrics or chords or something sticking with me. Not with Ladytron. I felt... nothing, nothing but relief it was over. It was just some below average synthpop. There was nothing I'd call a hit, or in any way memorable. It stands out as one of the worst gigs I've ever been to, perhaps the worst (and I've seen Van Morrison arrive over an hour late and play obscure tracks for 45 mins whilst obviously drunk). Each to their own, but deffo not for me.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I agree with everything you said, but still.... :"(

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I think they're fantastic. Ghosts is probably my favourite song from them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Ghosts is a tune

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Oh man, what a blast from the past. I love Ladytron. Discovered them during my more hardcore goth club years in my twenties. Still listen to them when I can.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

They definitely do have a Gothish vibe come to think of it, but I think they transcend it too

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

Oh 100% I just discovered them from goth club djs :) They were very popular beginning of the century around here but I do think they're one of the bands that go beyond that.

I was unaware thst they were still active though so thanks for your post because I got some listening to do!

[–] copymyjalopy 6 points 2 days ago

They're a vibe. I really like them at certain times.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago

I like them. Fell in love the first time I heard Light & Magic. Still listen to that album a few times each year :).

Another band that sort of sounds like them is Client.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Flicking Your Switch

Ladytron

Saw your visa card, and took a trip downtown

i don't really care that there's people around

9-2-3, 8-1-6

is the sound of them flicking your switch

8-1-5, 9-1-4

does this mean you don't trust me anymore?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

from the pictured album, great song

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I purchased the album on compact disc when it was released. I remember getting it from the general store, where Mr. Willoughby would sell penny candy to us kids for a ha'penny if he was in a good mood. Then we ran down the road, rolling our hoops with our sticks. That was the day I got my first tricorn hat.

Yeah, in all seriousness, it's a great song.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Ah, I remember listening to Ghosts as sung acapella by friends and neighbours down by the Baker street underground, as we hid from the Luftwaffe during the Blitz

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Fantastic. Got the opportunity to see them live in 2022 and it was a great show. Didn’t think I’d ever have the opportunity.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

I checked their roadmap to see when they'd be next touring -- but nothing :'(

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago

they were ok when I saw them live with NIN

I prefer genghis tron

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

Ladytron is a feel. Good stuff for that vibe.

She Wants Revenge is another adjacent band from the same timeframe.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Also, I realise someone released a parody of them before they were properly popular. This is a show called Look Around You which had a segment which tried to predict what music in the year 2000 was going to sound like:

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Peter Serafinowicz is cracking.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

He looks like a mix of Karl Urban and Daniel Craig

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

Great whilst on a ton of mushrooms

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I've never heard of them before but I'm going to go listen right now.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

Saw this post and that was the first song I thought of.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

I like them!