7/10

During their infancy in the early 2000s, Liverpool's Ladytron were seen as innovators in the electro-pop world. Combining glossy electronics with a rough and raw organic approach, the band's initial releases marked the beginning of a new wave of alternative electronic music in the mainstream, artists like Charli XCX and Chvrches have been pushing ever further to this day. But after an eight year hiatus since the release of their previous studio LP 'Gravity The Seducer' in 2011, the group have now returned with their more daring and innovative release to date in the form of their self-titled sixth album.

While the intention of Ladytron remains very much the same on this new collection, their attempts to broaden their aesthetic seems obvious from the very start. Opening up with the dark and pulsing 'Until The Fire', the record looks to take influence from a huge range of ideas, including trip-hop and 80s-style chillwave. This multifaceted approach to their return makes for a largely enjoyable and diverse release, that looks to pay homage to their classic sound but also offer up something different, as if the band have been struggling to move forward in their direction these last few years.

As a result, the album keeps up the pretence of their formative years but still sees them in a state of flux, evolving themselves into something more daring than we have heard before. 'Ladytron' as a comeback record certainly looks to make itself heard, and even after so many years away, the group have still managed to find an avenue to freshen themselves in this new era.