This year, L is for La Roux. Not the rock-synth hybrid of Ladyhawke, or the overproduced pop sound of Little Boots, and definitely not the overexposed Lady Gaga. With a name that blends the feminine form of “redhead” in French—“la rousse”—with the masculine “le roux,” the true fresh sound of female pop this year comes from multi-talented producer Ben Langmaid and 21-year-old vocalist Elle Jackson. The British electropop duo marries a love of old beats and new sounds, resulting in their ‘80s-inspired self-titled debut album. Think Yazoo and the Human League reincarnated, pounding harder than ever, making a disco-influenced pop for the 21st century.
“In For The Kill” matches hallucinogenic beats with the obviously primal suggestions of its lyrics, which Jackson sings with power and intimidation. “Tigerlily” unleashes Jackson’s vocal capabilities, switching from aggressive exuberance to haunting and dragged-out. On “Bulletproof,” Jackson’s voice traverses the music with the same confidence and potency that her intimidating gait suggests in the psychedelic music video.
What truly separates La Roux from their contemporaries is their refusal for the usual well-proven pop formula (a dash of Timbaland and a splash of Mark Ronson); instead, they fearlessly rely on Langmaid’s polished synthesizer beats, not needing the sometimes-overwhelming flourishes of excessive production. There is only Jackson’s voice backed by Langmaid’s rhythms, resulting in pop for the new age.
While the band has picked up some attention from the major players in the music industry, we can all take some solace in the fact that La Roux don’t seem interested in betraying their sound for mainstream fandom. For Jackson and Langmaid, ’09 will continue to be the new ‘80s, even if it means getting out more retro records and buying more hair gel.
Voice’s Choices: “Colourless Color,” “I’m Not Your Toy,” “Fascination”
