Ladyhawke makes Magic

 

Ladyhawke is twenty-something New Zealander Pip Brown.  Taking her name from the 1985 fantasy-themed film starring Rutger Hauer, Ladyhawke embraces all things weirdly current right now with her medieval-damsel-gone-electro persona.  She created this alter-ego around her music as a side project from her main gig, which was working with Nick Littlemore in Sydney-based duo Teenager.  Her former project was band Two Lane Blacktop ('01-'03), which gave her a taste of rock-and-roll, embracing The Clash and Iggy and The Stooges as influences and exposure to touring, including a show at CBGBs.  Playing lead guitar in Two Lane Blacktop, Ladyhawke now plays all the instruments on her eponymous album (but tours with a band).  Her album was released in November on Modular Recordings (label-mates include Australia's other predominant electronic bands Cut Copy and The Presets). 

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, and well Ladyhawke's album cover sums up exactly what she is about - nostalgia for the 80s (note the headband, synth, and video game).  Nostalgia plays a huge part of her songwriting, citing ladies like Kim Wilde and Pat Benetar as influences.  But Ladyhawke also relates to more current female performers such as Annie and Peaches (with whom she has worked on the remix project for her single "Paris Is Burning").  We don't hear too much Pat Benetar, but Kim Wilde is surely in there, and we are glad that there is a successor to "Kids In America" in Ladyhawke.  We also hear bits of The Sounds, Men Without Hats (yes, of "Safety Dance"), and all kinds of 80s soundtracks like "Visionquest" and "Electric Dreams". Now don't be confused with electroclash bands that are more dark and gloomy - Ladyhawke is more upbeat and pop oriented, like if Kylie Minogue were cool.  If this is your bag, then you will surely be listening to Ladyhawke in 2009.  We know we will (minus the headband).  Best songs to start with are: "Magic", "My Delirium", "Another Runaway", "Crazy World" and "Back of the Van".

 

Ladyhawke - band site / modular recordings / myspace