Velocifero

Velocifero is the fourth studio album by English electronic music band Ladytron and their first to be released by Nettwerk. The album was first released digitally on 19 May 2008, followed by a physical release on 2 June in the United Kingdom and on 3 June elsewhere.

Velocifero
Studio album by Ladytron
Released	19 May 2008 (2008-05-19)
Recorded	2007–2008
Studio	Grande Armée, Paris
Genre	Electronic rock[1][2] synth-pop[3] shoegaze[4] art pop goth-pop[5]
Length	54:29
Language	English Bulgarian
Label	Nettwerk
Producer	Ladytron
Ladytron chronology
The Harmonium Sessions (2006) Velocifero (2008) Live at London Astoria 16.07.08 (2009)
Singles from Velocifero
"Ghosts" Released: 12 May 2008 "Runaway" Released: 22 September 2008 "Tomorrow" Released: 2 March 2009

Velocifero peaked at number 75 on the UK Albums Chart, becoming the band's second highest-charting album to date in the UK (after Gravity the Seducer reached number 72 in 2011). It was also their first album to chart on the US Billboard 200, reaching number 131. Velocifero spawned three singles: "Ghosts", "Runaway" and "Tomorrow".

Background

According to band member Reuben Wu, "velocifero" literally means "bringer of speed",^[6] and is also the name of a classic retro-styled scooter. "Black Cat" and "Kletva" are both sung entirely in Bulgarian. "Kletva" (which means "oath") is a cover of a song from a solo album by Kiril Marichkov of Bulgarian rock band Shturtzite. Daniel Hunt provided additional vocals on "Versus".

Singles

"Ghosts" was released as the album's lead single on 12 May 2008. It reached number 106 on the UK singles chart.^[7] The song was included on the soundtrack to the video games Need for Speed: Undercover,^[8] The Sims 2: Apartment Life (Apartment Life featured the song as an instrumental version; both in 2008) The Sims 3 (2009) and LittleBigPlanet 2 (2011), as well as on the soundtrack to the 2009 slasher film Sorority Row.^[9] The track was also used in the TV advert for the 2010 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.^[10] A remix of "Ghosts" by New York alternative rap collective Blestenation was released as a free download on 22 August 2008 by RCRD LBL.^[11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	73/100[12]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[13]
The A.V. Club	B+[14]
BBC Music	Favourable[15]
Drowned in Sound	7/10[16]
The Guardian	[1]
Lost at Sea	8.5/10[17]
Pitchfork	7.2/10[5]
PopMatters	8/10[18]
Spin	[19]
The Times	[20]

Velocifero received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 73, based on 26 reviews.^[12]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mira Aroyo, Daniel Hunt, Helen Marnie and Reuben Wu, except where noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Black Cat" (writers: Aroyo, Wu)	5:09
2.	"Ghosts"	4:43
3.	"I'm Not Scared"	3:58
4.	"Runaway"	4:50
5.	"Season of Illusions"	4:02
6.	"Burning Up" (writers: Hunt, Wu)	4:08
7.	"Kletva" (writer: Kiril Marichkov)	2:43
8.	"They Gave You a Heart, They Gave You a Name"	3:29
9.	"Predict the Day" (writer: Marnie)	4:25
10.	"The Lovers"	2:39
11.	"Deep Blue"	5:03
12.	"Tomorrow"	3:36
13.	"Versus"	5:44

Japanese edition bonus tracks^[21][22]

No.	Title	Length
17.	"Ghosts" (Candie Hank Mix)	5:06
18.	"Ghosts" (Modwheelmood Mix) (iTunes Store only)	4:29

Velocifero (Remixed & Rare)

On 6 April 2010, Nettwerk released a compilation of remixes, B-sides and rarities titled Velocifero (Remixed & Rare). The cover is the based on the black and white stripes artwork of the single "Runaway".

No.	Title	Remixer(s)	Length
1.	"Ghosts"	Toxic Avenger	3:37
2.	"Tomorrow"	Apparat	5:39
3.	"Runaway" (Red Eye Remix)	James Zabiela	8:59
4.	"Predict the Day"	Grey Ghost	6:05
5.	"Runaway"	Adult	5:02
6.	"Tomorrow" (Lucky Remix)	Vector Lovers	6:53
7.	"Ghosts"	Modwheelmood	4:28
8.	"Tomorrow" (Radio Remix)	Jim Abbiss	3:34
9.	"Versus"	Kindle	4:38
10.	"Tomorrow"	port-royal	3:36
11.	"Runaway"	Brendan Long	5:17
12.	"Tomorrow" (Club Remix)	Dirty Vegas	9:22
13.	"Runaway"	Ashtar Command	4:40

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Velocifero.^[23]

Musicians

• Daniel Hunt – additional vocals (uncredited) (track 13)
• Semay Wu – cello
• Slic – drums
• Somekong (Peter Salmang and Javier Benitez) – additional musicians

Technical

• Ladytron – production
• Michael Patterson – mixing
• Vicarious Bliss – additional production
• Alessandro Cortini – additional production
• Erwan "Eq" Quinio – engineering
• Daniel Woodward – engineering
• Alex Hasson – engineering assistance

Artwork

• Stéphane Gallois – photography
• Assume Vivid Astro Focus – design
• Pipa – design

Charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA)[24]	9
Scottish Albums (OCC)[25]	75
UK Albums (OCC)[26]	75
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[27]	6
US Billboard 200[28]	131
US Top Dance Albums (Billboard)[29]	3

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Sweden	19 May 2008	Digital download	Playground Music Scandinavia	[30]
Italy			Nettwerk	[31]
United Kingdom				[32]
Australia	20 May 2008		Shock	[33]
Sweden	28 May 2008	CD	Playground Music Scandinavia	[34]
Germany	30 May 2008	CD LP digital download	Major	[35]
Australia	2 June 2008	CD	Shock	[36]
United Kingdom			Nettwerk	[37]
United States	3 June 2008	CD LP		[38]
Italy	4 June 2008	CD		[39]
Japan		CD digital download	Sideout	[22]
United States	28 September 2010	Digital download	Nettwerk	[40]

Velocifero (Remixed & Rare)

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United Kingdom	6 April 2010	Digital download	Nettwerk	[41]
Australia	21 May 2010	CD digital download	Shock	[42]
Germany		Digital download	Major	[43]
United States	1 June 2010	CD	Nettwerk	[44]
United Kingdom				[45]
United States	28 September 2010	Digital download		[46]