Album Review

La Roux – La Roux

1st Jul 2009

An ambient take on New Young Pony Club, shows that a brooding nature and cruising yet funky dance energy aren’t always like two disruptive school pupils and don’t have to be kept apart.

The often punchy, point-making and fuzzily sliding accompaniment conjuring, song writing duo of Elly Jackson and Ben Langmead, use La Roux to give synth pushed pop some thoughtfulness and strut. The former’s gliding, medium pitched vocals that often expand into a mild cry, ‘In For The Kill’ almost scraps against the synth sliding, especially when the instrumentals take on more robustness.

At times, a distanced and dreamy Eurythmics flavour is sprinkled on top of an occasionally animated vocal performance by the actress’ daughter, Elly. ‘Tigerlilly’, uses New Wave feistiness, echoing pitching and an uncompromising Sinead O’Connor kick shows up again the era that has most impacted upon this contrasting, but well matched pair.

Unlike many pop albums, each song pays attention to tone and mood building detail, often sacrificing the catchy impact of snappiness. Largely, the cocky swaggering and bolshy boasts are saved for interviews in favour of vulnerable imagery through the lyrics and the meaningful delivery of them, ‘Quicksand’.

Obviously, provocative cockiness is something that they can do to devastating effect, as previous number one single ‘Bulletproof’, bears out. However, it is made bearable and quite welcoming for its sparseness. Also, the simply swirling, digitally kicked beats add to the boldness of the song’s impact.

Elly is happily cast in the role of being the cherubesque, but slightly cheeky face and voice of La Roux, providing the needed bravado. Something that is well captured in the playfully stern ‘I’m Not Your Toy’. Langmead’s contribution is no less easy to discern and certainly no less valuable. Often dictating the pace and adding the odd kitschy tug to the likes of the slow churning, tenderizing fuzz out of ‘As If By Magic’ and, the hauntingly hovering ‘Fascination’.

It’s through the bonus track, ‘Growing Pains’ that the true depth in the song structure appears, with an almost blues funk and electro dressing carefully placing a plaster over the wounds that are opened out through the slightly groaning projection of Jackson. Who captivatingly narrates a tale about the pains of the growing up and trying to be grown up.

La Roux have delivered a debut album of depth, scattiness, beat-sliding and mundane philosophy. All they need is someone with enough media savvy and confidence to big it up and keep it in the public domain. Cue Ellie!