Witching Hour

Ladytron | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 4, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B000AY9ON0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,360 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

SERENELY BEAUTIFUL AT TIMES AND NOISY AND DISTURBING AT OTHERS; LIKE ALL THE BEST RECORDS SHOULD BE. The Electro-Clash pioneers return with their stunning new album! In pop folklore, bands were allowed three LPs to become themselves, yet the fabled third album is an increasing rarity in this low-attention span era. It comes as a rare treat to find that Liverpool-based boy / girl four-piece Ladytron have reached this mythical milestone with 'Witching Hour,’ their best album yet, and one that fizzes and sparks with the band's own idiosyncratic charms.

'Witching Hour' is an album that reaches further than its predecessors: warm and dense, there is a feeling of susceptible magic wrapped within its thirteen tracks. Ladytron just fulfilled their potential. Prepare to fall in love with them all over again.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where's Mira?, October 5, 2005

By 

Jessica Winney (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Witching Hour (Audio CD)

This album is in some ways a step up for Ladytron and in some ways a step down, depending upon how one chooses to look at it. On the positive side, "Witching Hour" is warmer and more mysterious than anything they have previously done. The soundscapes are incredibly lush and sweeping while also dense and fuzzy. This makes for a very interesting listening experience and Helen Marnie's vocals are better than ever. She sounds almost surreal, particularly on "International Dateline" and "Beauty*2". In a word, WOW. On the negative side, Mira Aroyo is featured on only two tracks and her presence is not nearly as prominent on this album as it was on previous albums. I have always thought that the interplay between her thick, Bulgarian vocals and Marnie's sweeter, more melodic vocals really gave Ladytron an edge. While Marnie has the voice to carry the album herself, she sounds better when complemented by Aroyo and similarly, Aroyo sounds better when backed by Marnie. Aroyo has always been less vocally prominent than Marnie and on this album she is almost non-existent. One fears that she will disappear into the background as Marnie takes over as the frontwoman of the band. My only other complaint is that I can't quite figure out the hidden track. This album contains a "hidden" 14th track, yet it is nothing but nine minutes of silence. Perhaps this is supposed to be symbolic? Who knows? "Witching Hour" is otherwise a very strong effort and an album that rewards repeated listening. It is definitely on my top ten list of albums released in 2005.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Icy cool, 21st century pop, December 6, 2005

By 

cagey - See all my reviews

This review is from: Witching Hour (Audio CD)

This is my first purchase of a Ladytron album, actually my first purchase of anything of theirs, since I've only been a very casual fan since their beginning. I've really only heard their singles "He Took Her To The Movies" and "Seventeen". There is much more material on "Witching Hour" that grabs you at first listen, though. The songs may have more melody, for the most part. So it's not surprising that fans of their earlier work may feel jilted by their new pop accessibility (although I felt the early singles were accessible as well) or the disappearance of any existing eccentricities.

The single "Destroy Everything You Touch" has a driving dance beat reminiscent of the 80's hits of Depeche Mode or New Order. I couldn't stop playing this after I downloaded it from iTunes. Then you notice the other songs and practically everything has something to offer. There are no tracks that I skip (not counting the final silent track). Songs like "Sugar" and "Weekend" are the kind I love playing LOUD speeding down a dark highway. "Beauty*2" has a fragile, haunting quality to it and I wish it didn't end so soon. "International Dateline" is another that stays in my head days after I hear it. The whole album is well produced and SOUNDS great.

I would place this as probably my favorite album of 2005 after Thievery Corporation's "The Cosmic Game". I have no reason not check out Ladytron's earlier releases after hearing this stunning album. **** 1/2 stars.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Right... Warm, Dense & Electric..., January 16, 2006

By 

Rafael Cova "Kid X" (Caracas, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Witching Hour (Audio CD)

The atmosphere of this record is electric and dark at the same time, beautiful at times and noisy and disturbing at others, like all the best records should be. "Witching Hour" is an album that reaches further than its predecessors: warm and dense, there is a feeling of susceptible magic wrapped within all tracks.
Witching Hour achieves a certain timelessness. Sure, these songs betray the inspiration of three decades of electronic pop, but none of them touch long enough to leave a fingerprint. Instead, Ladytron's warm songs sound new, retro and familiar without ever letting on that they've ever listened to synth-pop before.
The artful blend of darkness and warmth ultimately proves to be the record's best asset; it's a delicate balance, but Ladytron gets it just right.