Product Description Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats, for the show is about to begin. "The red haired one" will now start making electro-pop mean something again. Elly Jackson is 20 years old, and is experiencing all the things girls of that age tend to; heartbreak, frustration, wonderment, invincibility and fragility. But unlike most girls her age, Elly has a staggering ability to channel all these feelings and experiences into wondrous blasts of crystal-clean ear candy that hit the listener with instant resonance. But La Roux (French for "the red haired one") isn’t about disposable dancefloor fodder or meaningless pap--her creative waters are stirred most by the artistry of the original electro chart pioneers like Eurythmics and Depeche Mode, while she grew up strumming along to soul-searching sage’s like Nick Drake and Neil Young, starting points that still ground her today. The result of the gestation period of classic songwriting-meets-synth is a spread of tracks where a timeless electronic utopia and a Noughties’ head-nod danceability is underpinned by a painstaking way with words. The self-titled LP is a kaleidoscope of emotions, touching on everything from heartbreak to disappointment to invincibility--all in true spine tingling La Roux measures that create an instant resonance. The album contains the singles "Quicksand" and "In For The Kill" and "Bulletproof" still sounding fresh as a daisy, alongside the high crystal-clean falsettos of "Fascination" to the brooding lulls of ballad "Cover My Eyes" (that features London Community Gospel Choir). Review Tipped in many polls at the start of 2009 as a contender for success, La Roux were possibly always thought of as the wild card in the bunch with many pitting the duo against the shinier Little Boots. Elly Jackson's magnificent quiff of red hair, and high pitched, cutting tones certainly aren't for everyone, but the retro styling of her and producer Ben Langmaid's music has quickly burrowed its way into the hearts of the nation.While the magnetic Quicksand was first to tantalise our earbuds on limited release last year, it was instead the almost unpleasant-to-listen-to In For The Kill that swept these competitors out of the water, positioned her as the year's most exciting new talent and landed her a massive chart hit. That shrill vocal might mean the self titled debut album is not something you're likely to listen to all in one go in a high pressure situation, but it's one jam-packed with killer pop song after killer pop song. The frantic Tigerlily is a good indication of what's ahead, as a strange synth harpsichord eventually gives way to a starring role from Elly's father in a Vincent Price-aping spooky spoken word interlude. With the whole album centered around the break up of a twisted love affair, Bulletproof, with its candy floss chorus, might initially sound happier, but as Elly snarls that she's, ''been there, done that, messed around'' proves anything but. That newly resolute persona continues strong with the minimal I'm Not Your Toy and the early 90s decor of Colourless Colour. While the pair might be denying a heavy 80s influence in interviews, their music is filied with allusions to the likes of Yazoo, Aneka and The Human League particularly on the euphoric chorus of monster tune Fascination and the delightfully bleak Reflections Are Protections. Establishing themselves as one of our most exciting new pop acts, La Roux have mastered their debut. Never has something so tinny sounded so good. --Talia Kraines Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off in a new window
M**Y
Too good to be true ?
Where do I start, this album is absolutely FANTASTIC!!! From virtually any point of analysis, the music is of course boppy 80's style, which makes it retro. The lyrics really put the female emotion across very well and avoid the usual "I can't live without you" or "I am thinking of you" basic stuff. The lyrics are really in depth and I think help us men understand women better. The fact that they are poetic just adds to the magic.The singing voice (sorry don't know her name) is angelic and pure. If they album was 10 hours long, I would gladly listen to it over and over again.The thing that irritates about the band "la roux" is they have only given us one studio album which I think is a crying shame. One wonders that even if they do manage to release another one, will it be up to the standard of this one.If they did it would be a blessing to music.
J**T
More La Roux, please! Read on...........
Although I bought the new album 'Trouble in Paradise' first and didn't know this one (apart from the track 'Bulletproof'), I have found it hugely uplifting and inspiring and can't help wondering just where I've been hiding all this time! Upbeat, upcoming, punchy, funky, young, modern, sexy and feminine, the album teems with emotion and promise. Gorgeous! La Roux's voice, instrumentals and lyrics are so captivating and engrossing, they are hypnotic - and so easy to sing along with, especially alone in the car at high volume! I am luvvin' the stuff!! I saw La Roux aka Ellie Jackson in concert in February (Koko Club, Camden) and the whole thing just blew me away; I felt moved and happy for weeks afterwards! That said, I wish she had sung 'Cover my eyes' from this record and 'Paradise is you' from her recent one. I would also have liked her to have introduced her band, as they are so talented, lively and well, just.......musical. I love the scratchy guitar playing and the versatile keyboards. I was never a particular fan of synth-pop but somehow, La Roux transcends so many genres. At just 25, I think she is amazing and am waiting impatiently for more. I feel too old to attend musics festivals or to travel to Germany to see her. More solo performances in England, please! Thanks!
J**O
Track 11. Armour Love 2 minutes of silence
Is it just me, have I got a faulty disc...Track 11. Armour Love has 2 minutes of silence which is very strange. This track is the longest on the album 5.52 minutes shame that the last 2 minutes are completely silent.That said I love the Album & have been playing it over & over in the Car, Computer, and Mp3 Player & even at other peoples houses if they let me.UPDATE: 14th August 2010I have had this Album for over a year & it still sounds so so fresh, I still love it & play it several days a week.You will really enjoy this Album & if you are into Remixes the get the 'Bulletproof' and 'In For The Kill' remixes.I can't find anybody else who has noticed the 2 minutes silence on track 11- 'Armour Love' so I can only conclude that my disc must have been faulty.
J**.
average at best
It's ok.Two promising singles and a lot of hype about being cutting edge electronica in the style of The Human League, John Foxx or Depeche Mode. In fact, this is less cutting edge than electro-pop outfits like Thompson Twins, Howard Jones or Yazoo. Scratch the wafer-thin surface and all you get is an indifferent mix of Bananarama & Mika. Do the smart thing and buy the late-70s/early-80s albums instead.
S**S
SUE'S VIEW
I BOUGHT THE ALBUM AS A PRESENT FOR MY HUSBAND. WE HEARD HER DO A RADIO PROGRAMME WITH HEAVEN 17 AND THOUGHT SHE WAS REALLY GOOD. WE HAD ONLY HEARD HER RELEASED SINGLES ON THE RADIO BEFORE THEN. THE ALBUM IS MUCH BETTER THAN I EXPECTED. I PUT IT ON MY IPOD AND LISTEN TO IT ALL THE TIME; MY HUSBAND PLAYS THE ALBUM IN THE CAR ON HIS WAY TO AND FROM WORK. THE SONGS ARE GREAT AND REALLY SEEM TO GET BETTER THE MORE YOU LISTEN TO THEM. SHE IS A REAL TALENT. IF YOU ARE NOT YET A FAN, DEFINATELY WORTH TAKING A CHANCE ON.
D**2
La Roux
I'm hardly what you would call a synth/techno fan, but I don't hesitate to admit this is a quality album full of fantastic songs. Bulletproof is timeless, In For The Kill really annoyed me when it first came out but is now one of my favourites, and I can't believe Armour Love wasn't more of a hit than I remember because that song too has all the makings of a classic. A few of the others are a bit weak (eg. Fascination, Tigerlily which I don't particularly like for some reason, and the bonus track is only just about worth waiting for) but all in all a really refreshing range of earworm pop with lyrics that took more than 10 seconds' thought to write.
E**Y
La Roux album
I borrowed this from my local library and loved it immediately!,so decided to buy it!,it arrived early but unfortunately it has been slightly damaged during transit,so it can't sit in the CD case very well!!but still a very good album!!
A**I
I love it
Iv just got into La Roux music after hearing bulletproof and I love her music. So much so I’ve just bought the Trouble In Paradise album.
