La Roux: La Roux :: Wessex Scene Online

La Roux: La Roux

8th October 2009
Tim Clancy

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Feb 10 - Albums of the Year 2009: No.1
May 09 - The Audition: Self-Titled Album
Oct 08 - Glasvegas - Glasvegas
Oct 09 - That’s Entertainment..
Oct 09 - Rise Agaisnt: Appeal To Reason

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To many people, the release of La Roux’s self titled debut album at the end of June was old news

- after all, the synth-pop duo (Elly Jackson and her photo shy partner, Ben Langmaid) had enjoyed regular radio and nightclub play from the start of the new year. To others, it was more the uneasy feeling that they had heard it all during the 1980s which made La Roux’s sound somewhat passé. Indeed, read any review of La Roux and the critic cannot help but harp on about Depeche Mode and Eurythmics. This has the effect of making La Roux sound like a 1980s novelty throwback, like buying a Sega Megadrive from a boys toys website. This, however, is just as much to do with the music critic trying to relive their 1980s teenage-hood as it does with La Roux’s inspirations.

The album La Roux is a tale of three parts. The first four tracks, the singles ‘In For The Kill’, ‘Quicksand’ and ‘Bulletproof’ with the more cumbersome ‘Tigerlily’ wedged in between, stand up against anything Vince Clark and co. rustled up before The Wall came down. ‘Quicksand’ and ‘Bulletproof’, in particular, are characterised by Elly Jackson’s desperate, last gasp style of vocals. The opening quartet set a good pace to to the album, with pretty much every sound you could ever imagine emanating from a keyboard being propelled along by strong drumbeats.

The second part of the album is unfortunately laboured with ballads that lack any spontaneity. ‘I’m Not Your Toy’ stands out however, and indeed has been named the next single. The track has a funky melancholy about it, that will prevent it from being the dance floor hit of the ‘In For The Kill’ and ‘Bulletproof’ ilk, but will make it an instant winner with sixteen year old girls who have just discovered their boyfriend has been driving his moped round their best mate’s house every Friday night for a grope.

And here lies the main problem with the record. The lyrics, in the most part are written by Jackson from real life experience, start off sounding strong and defiant, a lone, quaffed ginger figure against the world. A few more listens however, and the anger and bitterness starts to turn to self pity.

Thankfully, the persevering listener is rewarded by a few late gems in the last third. ‘As If By Magic’ and ‘Fascination’ reignite the record in a blaze of 1980s keys and beats. ‘Fascination’ in particular is a delightfully upbeat and cheery track. Whether La Roux is listened to whilst screaming down the M3 at night, or whilst getting ready for a night out, it has more than enough good moments to outweigh the bad. Face it, synth-pop is cool again in its own right. La Roux have taken the genre back twenty-five years, granted, but why should comparisons to a previous music generations sully what is now a very well written and well thought out album?

Sure, it gets a bit whiny in places, and the ballads are forgettable, but this has always been true of synth-pop. But if you are too young to remember the eighties, then give La Roux a shot. If you can remember the eighties, then why are you reading The Edge?

Score: 60%