604

**Intro**This work was Ladytron's first full length album, and in my opinion, one of their best. I prefer it over their other albums because it seems like this one was the most distinct, the least like other music being published at the time, and also because there is more variance between styles between the different songs.**The Music**The songs all have electronic accompaniment, and in this way, it reminds me of Electroclash, and even old-school electronic like Kraftwerk. The vocals are kind of flat and detached, which is the style of Shoegaze, a genre that was a thing in the UK back in the early 90s. You can kind of see some of this legacy in some of the music videos of Ladytron, where technology and computers from approximately the early 90s is visible. There seems to be something nostalgic about the tone of the music in general too. The songs vary by how prominent the lyrics are. In "Commodore Rock" for example, the song is essentially instrumental, with the lyrics getting as lost as a conversation or argument on the other side of a concrete parking lot. In other songs, the lyrics are very clear and prominent, such as in Playgirl. The lyrics seem to convey notions of feminism, but also of romance, dating, relationships, and the emotions tied to them. Subtle melancholy is essentially universal throughout the album. As with all of the Ladytron albums, there is a buzz layer to the accompaniment, all of the songs have this warm glowing buzz in nearly all of the songs. This adds a warmth and dreaminess to what would otherwise be fairly sad music.**Conclusions/Buying Advice**It is my opinion that this is the best of the Ladytron albums. It would be a good place to get started if you are looking to explore Ladytron. Anyone who has heard songs off the later albums should definitely go back and explore this one. I feel that the quality and artistic merit between the different songs on this album is pretty uniform, so I would recommend that those interested in this music consider buying the whole album, rather than specific single songs.

Ladytron does a good job trying to fuse post-Beck nerd-funk with kraftwerkian krautrock. Loose, almost sloppy grooves blend with fat vintage synthesizers and a jet-age style. Helena Marnie's childlike vocals for some reason conjour up images of a bored airline hostess on one of 2001's interplanetary shuttles.The downside of this album is that the really great tracks often drown among the weird experimental "jam-session" tracks and self-conscious retro feel. "Commodore Rock" is a bit repetative, "CSKA Sofia" is quite repetative, while "ZMEYKA" is jarring with its screechy violin. "He Took Her To a Movie" is so krautrock-retro (right down to the droll vocal delivery) you can sing the lyrics to Kraftwerk's "The Model" along.Luckily, there are tracks like "Discotraxx", "Ladybird" and "Paco!" that are so catchy you can't help but sing along. It's the same sort of effect as a Bis album, except lacking in the teen elements.

You know how in school you heard that thing about how the typical 5 year old child today knows as much as Michelangelo did, that knowledge has grown so exponentially that kids today are as smart as geniuses were during the Renaissance? Well, that's the kind of effect that Ladytron's 604 cd has: although it is definitely '80's-influenced, the 16 tracks here are as good or better than any 16 tracks from the entire output of synth-pop stretching from Kraftwerk to Gary Numan and New Order. Not only that, but just about every track here has some connection to those earlier avatars: "Commodore Rock" being a paen to New Order's "Blue Monday,' while "I'm With the Pilots" is a nod to Numan and the brilliantly awesome "He Took Her to a Movie" is a synthesis of Kraftwerk's "Autobahn" and John Foxx's "She's a Liquid." But Ladytron doesn't merely imitate, they transcend. Everything here is fresh, vibrant and inventive, moody, clever and wise. These guys are from Liverpool, Hong Kong and Bulgaria and they are brilliant. You get this cd, you hear?

About 90% of the material on this CD is actually very good, the remaining 10% including the extra tracks are but mere filler. Unfortunately, just as any other humanoid rock band, their later albums don't top this one, even when by the third one they start replacing their synthpop sound with grungy guitars and echoes. If you are new to this group, this CD will be a very nice introduction to the band, as well as their second album "Light And Magic", though with less ear candy than "604". Highly recommended.

Classic Ladytron

This is such a great cd and includes a few live tracks and remixes at the end not included in the original release. Get it! You won't be dissapointed.

its a realy great disc y very glad whit this i love ladytron is a special music for me .

Good stuff. Very well done electro pop.