Four albums in, and its quite clear that Liverpools Ladytron are not susceptible to the dancefloors flightier urges. Like its predecessors, Velocifero is electro-pop to the core, a sparking circuit of cold emotions and enveloping synths that despite its remove--or perhaps because of it--feels the perfect vehicle for some genuinely affecting pop songs. Boasting additional production work from Nine Inch Nails Alessandro Cortini and Vicarious Bliss of notorious Parisian … mehrimprint Ed Banger, there is a certain robust quality of sound here: "Black Cat", sung by Mira Aroyo in her native Bulgarian, commences with booming drums and big black smears of synthesiser. But there are signs of a certain playfulness, too. "Ghosts" rides a lolloping glam beat that positions it in the area of Goldfrapps Black Cherry, Helena Marnies cool, mysterious vocal recalling Stereolabs Laetitia Sadler in its veiled promise: "There's a ghost in me/who wants to say I'm sorry/doesn't mean I'm sorry". The Aroyo-sung "Kletva", meanwhile, is a cover of the theme from an old Bulgarian childrens TV program, performed with an uncharacteristic jaunt that, while relatively alien to Ladytron, actually works rather nicely.-Louis Pattison weniger