Velocifero

Velocifero
Studio album by
Ladytron
Released19 May 2008 (2008-05-19)
Recorded2007–2008
StudioGrande Armée, Paris
Genre
Length54:29
Language
  • English
  • Bulgarian
LabelNettwerk
ProducerLadytron
Ladytron chronology
The Harmonium Sessions
(2006) 		Velocifero
(2008) 		Live at London Astoria 16.07.08
(2009)
Singles from Velocifero
  1. "Ghosts"
    Released: 12 May 2008
  2. "Runaway"
    Released: 22 September 2008
  3. "Tomorrow"
    Released: 2 March 2009

Velocifero is the fourth studio album by English electronic music band Ladytron and their first to be released by Nettwerk. The album was first released digitally on 19 May 2008, followed by a physical release on 2 June in the United Kingdom and on 3 June elsewhere.

Velocifero peaked at number 75 on the UK Albums Chart, becoming the band's second highest-charting album to date in the UK (after Gravity the Seducer reached number 72 in 2011). It was also their first album to chart on the US Billboard 200, reaching number 131. Velocifero spawned three singles: "Ghosts", "Runaway" and "Tomorrow".

Background

According to band member Reuben Wu, "velocifero" literally means "bringer of speed",[6] and is also the name of a classic retro-styled scooter. "Black Cat" and "Kletva" are both sung entirely in Bulgarian. "Kletva" (which means "oath") is a cover of a song from a solo album by Kiril Marichkov of Bulgarian rock band Shturtzite. Daniel Hunt provided additional vocals on "Versus".

Singles

"Ghosts" was released as the album's lead single on 12 May 2008. It reached number 106 on the UK singles chart.[7] The song was included on the soundtrack to the video games Need for Speed: Undercover,[8] The Sims 2: Apartment Life (Apartment Life featured the song as an instrumental version; both in 2008) The Sims 3 (2009) and LittleBigPlanet 2 (2011), as well as on the soundtrack to the 2009 slasher film Sorority Row.[9] The track was also used in the TV advert for the 2010 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.[10] A remix of "Ghosts" by New York alternative rap collective Blestenation was released as a free download on 22 August 2008 by RCRD LBL.[11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic73/100[12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
The A.V. ClubB+[14]
BBC MusicFavourable[15]
Drowned in Sound7/10[16]
The Guardian[1]
Lost at Sea8.5/10[17]
Pitchfork7.2/10[5]
PopMatters8/10[18]
Spin[19]
The Times[20]

Velocifero received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 73, based on 26 reviews.[12]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mira Aroyo, Daniel Hunt, Helen Marnie and Reuben Wu, except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."Black Cat" (writers: Aroyo, Wu)5:09
2."Ghosts"4:43
3."I'm Not Scared"3:58
4."Runaway"4:50
5."Season of Illusions"4:02
6."Burning Up" (writers: Hunt, Wu)4:08
7."Kletva" (writer: Kiril Marichkov)2:43
8."They Gave You a Heart, They Gave You a Name"3:29
9."Predict the Day" (writer: Marnie)4:25
10."The Lovers"2:39
11."Deep Blue"5:03
12."Tomorrow"3:36
13."Versus"5:44
Japanese edition bonus tracks[21][22]
No.TitleLength
17."Ghosts" (Candie Hank Mix)5:06
18."Ghosts" (Modwheelmood Mix) (iTunes Store only)4:29

Velocifero (Remixed & Rare)

On 6 April 2010, Nettwerk released a compilation of remixes, B-sides and rarities titled Velocifero (Remixed & Rare). The cover is the based on the black and white stripes artwork of the single "Runaway".

No.TitleRemixer(s)Length
1."Ghosts"Toxic Avenger3:37
2."Tomorrow"Apparat5:39
3."Runaway" (Red Eye Remix)James Zabiela8:59
4."Predict the Day"Grey Ghost6:05
5."Runaway"Adult5:02
6."Tomorrow" (Lucky Remix)Vector Lovers6:53
7."Ghosts"Modwheelmood4:28
8."Tomorrow" (Radio Remix)Jim Abbiss3:34
9."Versus"Kindle4:38
10."Tomorrow"port-royal3:36
11."Runaway"Brendan Long5:17
12."Tomorrow" (Club Remix)Dirty Vegas9:22
13."Runaway"Ashtar Command4:40

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Velocifero.[23]

Musicians

  • Daniel Hunt – additional vocals (uncredited) (track 13)
  • Semay Wu – cello
  • Slic – drums
  • Somekong (Peter Salmang and Javier Benitez) – additional musicians

Technical

  • Ladytron – production
  • Michael Patterson – mixing
  • Vicarious Bliss – additional production
  • Alessandro Cortini – additional production
  • Erwan "Eq" Quinio – engineering
  • Daniel Woodward – engineering
  • Alex Hasson – engineering assistance

Artwork

Charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA)[24] 9
Scottish Albums (OCC)[25] 75
UK Albums (OCC)[26] 75
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[27] 6
US Billboard 200[28] 131
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[29] 3

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Sweden 19 May 2008 Digital download Playground Music Scandinavia [30]
Italy Nettwerk [31]
United Kingdom [32]
Australia 20 May 2008 Shock [33]
Sweden 28 May 2008 CD Playground Music Scandinavia [34]
Germany 30 May 2008
  • CD
  • LP
  • digital download
 Major [35]
Australia 2 June 2008 CD Shock [36]
United Kingdom Nettwerk [37]
United States 3 June 2008
  • CD
  • LP
 [38]
Italy 4 June 2008 CD [39]
Japan
  • CD
  • digital download
 Sideout [22]
United States 28 September 2010 Digital download Nettwerk [40]
Velocifero (Remixed & Rare)
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United Kingdom 6 April 2010 Digital download Nettwerk [41]
Australia 21 May 2010
  • CD
  • digital download
 Shock [42]
Germany Digital download Major [43]
United States 1 June 2010 CD Nettwerk [44]
United Kingdom [45]
United States 28 September 2010 Digital download [46]

References

  1. ^ a b Lynskey, Dorian (30 May 2008). "Ladytron, Velocifero". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  2. ^ Phares, Heather. "Gravity the Seducer – Ladytron". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  3. ^ Lawson, Liz (3 June 2018). "Ladytron: Velocifero". Paste. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  4. ^ "LADYTRON: Velocifero [Nettwerk]". Magnet. 3 June 2008.
  5. ^ a b Patrin, Nate (2 June 2008). "Ladytron: Velocifero". Pitchfork. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  6. ^ "Nettwerk: Ladytron". Nettwerk. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  7. ^ "Chart Log UK: 1994–2010". Zobbel. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Need for Speed Undercover". Need for Speed. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  9. ^ Monger, James Christopher. "Sorority Row [Soundtrack] – Various Artists". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  10. ^ "The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival: Big". Ads of the World. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  11. ^ Duke, Samuel (22 August 2008). "EXCLUSIVE NEW DOWNLOAD: Ladytron – Ghosts (Blestenation Remix)". RCRD LBL. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  12. ^ a b "Velocifero by Ladytron Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  13. ^ Phares, Heather. "Velocifero – Ladytron". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  14. ^ Bahn, Christopher (2 June 2008). "Ladytron: Velocifero". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  15. ^ Quinn, Michael (30 May 2008). "Review of Ladytron – Velocifero". BBC Music. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
  16. ^ Dobson, Gareth (5 June 2008). "Ladytron – Velocifero". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  17. ^ Svanberg, Daniel (4 June 2008). "LAS Magazine". Lost at Sea. Archived from the original on 28 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  18. ^ Begrand, Adrien (3 June 2008). "Ladytron: Velocifero". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  19. ^ Wood, Mikael (June 2008). "Reviews: New CDs". Spin. Vol. 24, no. 6. p. 112. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  20. ^ Gatti, Tom (31 May 2008). "Ladytron: Velocifero". The Times. Retrieved 1 June 2011.[dead link‍]
  21. ^ "Velocifero by Ladytron" (in Japanese). Japan: iTunes Store. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  22. ^ a b "Ladytron – Velocifero". HMV Japan. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  23. ^ Velocifero (liner notes). Ladytron. Nettwerk. 2008. 5 037703 079021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ "ARIA Hitseekers – Week Commencing 9th June 2008" (PDF). The ARIA Report (954): 21. 9 June 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  26. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  27. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  28. ^ "Ladytron Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  29. ^ "Ladytron Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  30. ^ "Velocifero by Ladytron". Sweden: iTunes Store. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  31. ^ "Velocifero di Ladytron" (in Italian). Italy: iTunes Store. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  32. ^ "Velocifero by Ladytron". United Kingdom: iTunes Store. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  33. ^ "Velocifero by Ladytron". Australia: iTunes Store. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  34. ^ "Velocifero – Ladytron". CDON (in Swedish). Sweden. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  35. ^ "Velocifero: Ladytron" (in German). Germany: Amazon. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  36. ^ "Velocifero – Ladytron". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  37. ^ "Velocifero: Ladytron". United Kingdom: Amazon. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  38. ^ "Velocifero: Ladytron". United States: Amazon. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  39. ^ "Ladytron – Velocifero". IBS.it (in Italian). Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  40. ^ "Velocifero by Ladytron". United States: iTunes Store. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  41. ^ "Velocifero (Remixed and Rare) by Ladytron". United Kingdom: iTunes Store. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  42. ^ "Velocifero – Remixed & Rare – Ladytron". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  43. ^ "Velocifero (Remixed & Rare) von Ladytron" (in German). Germany: iTunes Store. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  44. ^ "Velocifero (Remixed and Rare): Ladytron". United States: Amazon. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  45. ^ "Velocifero: Remixed & Rare: Ladytron". United Kingdom: Amazon. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  46. ^ "Velocifero (Remixed & Rare) by Ladytron". United States: iTunes Store. Retrieved 1 June 2011.