It took just over six months for La Roux to go from issuing their first single on Kitsune to topping the U.K. charts. That's a swift rise -- one that was years in the making, of course -- but after hearing their self-titled debut, it's easy to understand their sudden fame: La Roux's take on '80s synth pop is as unique as it is familiar. La Roux's inspirations, which include Blancmange and the Eurythmics, might be decades old and well-known, but their spare coldness can still sound weird, and La Roux shows just how committed they are to that chilly oddness and catchiness. They use only the brittlest drums and tinniest synths on these songs -- if anything, it feels like La Roux's gear is more limited than the original group's were. They even have the proper synth pop lineup: La Roux is a duo (though singer Elly Jackson gets most of the limelight). However, their devotion transcends kitsch, even if Jackson's asymmetrical copper wedge of a hairdo suggests otherwise. It also sounds remarkably relevant. Robyn and the Knife are kindred spirits, and in a sea of hyper-feminized pop singers, Jackson's androgyny is as arresting as Annie Lennox's was a quarter-century earlier. Yet La Roux aren't purists. "Tigerlily"'s tough-girl stance mixes 8-bit arpeggios with a creepy, "Thriller"-style spoken word bridge, and "Reflections Are Protection"'s bass and synths nod to electro. While style is a large part of La Roux's substance, it never feels slick, and that's due to Jackson's voice as much as it is the group's intentionally stiff sounds -- in fact, it's the way that her vocals interact with those sounds that makes these songs so dynamic. Jackson can be shrill and almost synthetic-sounding when she hits high notes, especially on the breakout hit "In for the Kill," but her lower register -- which she uses beautifully on "Colourless Colour" -- is throaty and very human. Her characters are either running toward or away from desperate love affairs, but like other skilled popsmiths, La Roux know how to give pain a sweet and shiny veneer. Nowhere is this clearer than on "Quicksand," which uses a relentlessly tight arrangement and Jackson's frosty soulfulness to give the song's obsession a shot of excitement. And though the chart-topping "Bulletproof" is feisty and "As If by Magic" is wistful, both songs use wishes and daydreams as armor against further heartache. La Roux's dedication to their aesthetic makes this an album where the songs are variations on a theme, and on the rare occasion where the songwriting isn't razor-sharp, the style threatens to overtake the substance. However, that devotion also makes La Roux a standout, not just among the many other '80s revivalists, but the entire late-2000s pop landscape.
The fact that I’m not the biggest pop fan at AWmusic should be reason enough for me to not speak my mind on La Roux’s new album, but the fact that no one has done it yet speaks volumes itself.So far, La Roux have emerged unscathed from comparisons to Lady Gaga and Little Boots, and [...]No related posts. Sorry.
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The familiar synth motif of In For The Kill provides a comfortingly predictable opening to the debut album from the electro-pop London duo La Roux, consisting of singer and songwriter Elly Jackson and her accomplice, producer and composer Ben Langmaid. Following a brief spell of misfortune, including the flump of first single Quicksand in November [...]
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La Roux: "Bulletproof" BulletproofLa Roux, the UK based electro-pop singer, is the hottest thing to not yet set ablaze the US. Making limited stops in the US, her self-title debut was released in late June, yet her single "In for the Kill" has sold over 500,000 copies in the UK. Instead of calling herself "ginger," La Roux ("red") choose to name herself after her hair color. It's hard not to no...
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The duo that is La Roux have quickly become a mainstream phenomenon over the last couple of months and though we can honestly see why, we're not very happy about it. Further blurring the borders between experimentalism and accessibility (we're sure this kind of pop couldn't of existed at the same time as the Spice Girls) the eponymous first album is a pitch perfect piece of radio-ready banality...
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ALBUM REVIEW: La Roux – S/Twords: Jamie MiltonIs the battle for the Queen of pop 2009 dictated by image? I mean this seriously. For instance, ‘Hands’ has become a relative flop of sorts, ‘Lungs’ looks to do quite the opposite. Maybe the difference between Florence Welch and Victoria Hesketh is that Welch now has this [...]
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ALBUM REVIEW: La Roux – S/Twords: Jamie MiltonIs the battle for the Queen of pop 2009 dictated by image? I mean this seriously. For instance, ‘Hands’ has become a relative flop of sorts, ‘Lungs’ looks to do quite the opposite. Maybe the difference between Florence Welch and Victoria Hesketh is that Welch now has this [...]
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This is a bonus UK iTunes track off of La Roux's self-titled debut album. Spotted @ Mossip.La Roux - "Saviour"Pigeons and Planes
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One of my favorite tracks from one of my favorite albums of 2009, La Roux's "I'm Not Your Toy" song + video is a perfect example of the duo's mastering of the 80s synth pop sound and attitude --this time with a less moody, more fun vibe. Singer/synth player Elly Jackson, with her trademark Flock of Seagulls-lite cockatoo hairstyle, emerges from a pool like an androgynous siren set on bewitchin...
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La Roux: "Bulletproof" BulletproofLa Roux, the UK based electro-pop singer, is the hottest thing to not yet set ablaze the US. Making limited stops in the US, her self-title debut was released in late June, yet her single "In for the Kill" has sold over 500,000 copies in the UK. Instead of calling herself "ginger," La Roux ("red") choose to name herself after her hair color. It's hard not to no...
More >
La Roux, the British electro-synthpop duo, will perform select dates in the U.S. as they look to capitalize on the word-of-mouth success of their self-titled album.The duo is made up of singer Eleanor "Elly" Jackson and synth player, co-writer and co-producer Ben Langmaid.The tour kicks off on October 18th in San Francisco and wraps after a short trek (7 gigs total) on October 27th in Boston. T...
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The familiar synth motif of In For The Kill provides a comfortingly predictable opening to the debut album from the electro-pop London duo La Roux, consisting of singer and songwriter Elly Jackson and her accomplice, producer and composer Ben Langmaid. Following a brief spell of misfortune, including the flump of first single Quicksand in November [...]
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Photo by PavlunkaMad Decent is equally excited like pretty much everyone because of La Roux’s upcoming debut full-length this summer. Therefore they are dropping 2 remixes of her debut single.“Quicksand (Mad Decent remix 1)” | download“Quicksand (Mad Decent remix 2)” | downloadLa Roux | Myspace | Tour Dates | Buy
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I haven't been posting enough electronic music lately so maybe this could get me back to posting about more of them. I recentely listened to La Roux debut album and I was impressed by it. Today I received a remix of the their UK chart-topping single 'Bulletproof'. DJ Lapse...Click the link to read more
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This is the most amazing thing you’ve heard all week.We’ve been waiting for this song for ages, Cover My Eyes off La Roux’s self-titled debut album, and it’s finally here. Check out a synthy tear-jerker from La Roux, the slowest jam (a ballad!) we’ve heard from her, showcasing a softer side to the UK electropop [...]
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The duo that is La Roux have quickly become a mainstream phenomenon over the last couple of months and though we can honestly see why, we're not very happy about it. Further blurring the borders between experimentalism and accessibility (we're sure this kind of pop couldn't of existed at the same time as the Spice Girls) the eponymous first album is a pitch perfect piece of radio-ready banality...
More >
NYC’s Larry Tee & Alexander Technique give La Roux’s track Bulletproof a fresh makeover. Check out the huge article that DJ MAG did on Larry here!La Roux – Bulletproof (Larry Tee & Alexander Technique Blogula Remix) [YSI]Download audio file (Bulletproof%20-%20Larry%20Tee%20&%20Alexander%20Technique%20Blogula%20Rmx.mp3)Share this post
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I’m just going to put it out there, but am I the only one to find Elly Jackson somewhat pretty? I don’t know, just had to say it I guess. Anyway, here’s the video for her fourth single off her debut self-titled album.download : La Roux - I’m Not Your Toy
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A-Trak is my favorite disc jockey. Technically, he's fantastic on the ones and twos both scratching and beatmatching; he is a true joy to watch perform. Yet, technical spinning and producing are two very different, if related, skills. And while A-Trak has been among the elite on the decks for more than a decade, his production aesthetic is still developing. Don't get me wrong, I've loved a l...
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I’ve heard some lukewarm reaction to this song around the place but if this is pop music, then welcome the fuck back pop. I do think the video distracts slightly from the awesomeness of the song. Stuck on repeat.There’s a cool Zinc remix of the tune floating around at the moment too. Don’t think it’s [...]
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The fact that I’m not the biggest pop fan at AWmusic should be reason enough for me to not speak my mind on La Roux’s new album, but the fact that no one has done it yet speaks volumes itself.So far, La Roux have emerged unscathed from comparisons to Lady Gaga and Little Boots, and [...]No related posts. Sorry.
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 In for the Kill |
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| 2 Tigerlily |
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| 3 Quicksand |
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| 4 Bulletproof |
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| 5 Colourless Colour |
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| 6 I'm Not Your Toy |
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| 7 Cover My Eyes |
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| 8 As If by Magic |
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| 9 Fascination |
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| 10 Reflections Are Protection |
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| 11 Armour Love |
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| 12 Growing Pains [*] |
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Click to purchase…
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 "La Roux")
