La Roux [CD]

With commercially successful singles "Quicksand" and "In For The Kill" (latterly remixed by dubstep luminary Skream), red-headed, pale-skinned Brixton girl Elly Jackson and her "invisible" co-producer Ben Langmaid irrevocably established their love of 80s pop. This debut album continues the duo’s foray into euphoric retro-dance, nodding non-ironically to the likes of The Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, Heaven 17 and The Human League while remaining impressively contemporary. Opening with a string of sassy tunes--the buzzing "Tigerlily", the synth-heavy "Quicksand" and the slick and fiery "Bulletproof"--it’s apparent that La Roux have colour, class and confidence in spades. The album tapers off a little during the second half--failed experiments like "Cover My Eyes" which features the London Community Gospel Choir don't help--but it still boasts way more in the shape of dynamic killers than sappy fillers. First class. --Danny McKenna

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

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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).