Reading 2005 : Ladytron in the Carling Tent

Up against the Pixies and
festival darlings Kasabian it was always going
to be difficult for Ladytron to get the audience they deserved in the Carling
Tent. On the cusp of releasing 3^rd
album, Witching Hour, this set proved that this bizarre mix of Europe and Liverpool still has
mileage and they deserve more success than they seem to achieve.

Darting wildly between
albums, the slick black haired 4 piece manage to combine their cool
sophisticated look with songs rooted in darkness. Debut single He Took Her to a Movie is met
with ecstasy as the crowd softly dance around to the clinical beats. Live favourite Playgirl continues the
aloof mystique and the dancefloor gets more and more animated as they steadily
build up the intensity until reaching the pounding dance beats of climatic new
single Destroy Everything You Touch.

However cold and clinical
Ladytron may be on stage there is something so compelling and unsettling about
them and their music that it somehow feels strangely right.