2014 Favourites: The Music (Part Two)

5) La Roux 'Trouble in Paradise'

After the instant success of their eponymous debut album no one could have expected the five year wait that came with their follow up. In this time producer Ben Langmaid spilt from the duo leaving just singer and front woman Elly Jackson to take over the reins. 

I watched an interview with Jackson years ago on morning television where she explained that she writes music very differently to your standard musician. Most bands or artists will write forty, fifty songs for a record and then narrow it down from there whereas she will only write the 'x' amount of songs she intends to release. She doesn't work in that pressured let's-hope-for-some-magic approach. This is evident because after a five year delay Trouble in Paradise offers us only nine tracks.


However with this difficult second record comes a strong sense of perfectionism, these nine tracks deliver immense consistency. There isn't a single song on the record that Jackson didn't agonize over or struggle with. This is a body of work with a very defined aesthetic that she knew couldn't be rushed. These are real pop songs that matter to her.

The music still has the familiarity of La Roux which I have always loved, a nervy groove and funk feel that she probably doesn't get enough credit for. Trouble in Paradise isn't as heavily produced or as electro as her debut, her sound has really loosened up feeling friskier, bouncier and warmer. She has always been known as a synth pop artist but there is a more organic eighties vibe present than before. Also, I really enjoy that whilst it's very upbeat the album is disguising a real melancholic mood or theme. Everything still comes across very fun and fresh. 

The gap between records really allowed Jackson experience the freedom and time to explore and develop a sound for her that she should be proud of, it remains a firm cohesive track list. The wait might have sacrificed her commercial success in this fickle music industry but she let the music breathe again, which is pretty inspiring.

Favourite Tracks: Sexoteque, Kiss and Not Tell, Paradise Is You. 

I could almost write an entire post on her awesome sense of style

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