Ladyhawke
The Age
Friday October 3, 2008
Ladyhawke
Ladyhawke (Modular) 3/5When will the '80s synth-pop revival end? At least this time it's a chick plugging in the keytar and channelling Bananarama, instead of another fey long-fringed chap channelling Gary Numan's tight jeans. New Zealander Ladyhawke, or Pip Brown to her folks, recently moved from Sydney, where she lived for five years, to London. Then electro-artist Peaches remixed the first single from her self-titled debut and Ladyhawke fast became the "it" name to drop - apparently Courtney and Kylie are already fans. Brown insists she's not referencing the 1980s but her catchy synth-infused tunes take the listener, should he/she be old enough, straight into a Pat Benatar-style film clip. But the 27-year-old, who plays several instruments and writes and arranges all her material, does have some great electro-pop going on; opener Magic is promisingly breathy and sexy and the single Paris Is Burning is a surefire club hit. But elsewhere it's all a tad too '80s (yes, Virginia, there is such a thing); Dusk Till Dawn, frighteningly, brings to mind Go West and Back of the Van, despite Ms 'hawke's repeated denials in interviews, is pure Stevie Nicks. Backed by Van Halen. -- KYLIE NORTHOVER
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