Ladytron

Ladytron's straightforwardly named Extended Play collects remixes and B-sides from the band's Witching Hour singles into an EP of their own. For the most part, the EP plays exactly like what it is -- tracks used to support Ladytron's "A" material. The remixes are nice but nothing extraordinary: "High Rise (Club Mix)" strips Witching Hour's opening track down to its backing vocals and towering synth bassline, with a few hard-edged beats and guitars; "Sugar (Jagz Kooner Mix)"'s siren-like analog synths and tight, tinny rhythm suggest what the song would've sounded like had it been on one of Ladytron's more retro-futuristic albums like 604. However, James Iha's reworking of "Weekend" is one of Extended Play's highlights, with hand drums, percussion, and shimmering yet sharp guitars giving it an exotic feel. Likewise, Shipps & Tait's take on "Last One Standing" has an intricate yet understated arrangement that makes it arguably more haunting than the original. The other B-sides collected here are similarly just okay: "Nothing to Hide" is a track sung by Mira Aroyo that sounds like a less-developed version of her songs that actually ended up on Witching Hour, while the instrumentals "Citadel" and "Tender Talons" have a slightly kitsch playfulness that also recalls Ladytron's earlier work; "Tender Talons" is the better of the two, with flute-like Mellotrons that emphasize its delicately menacing vibe. Extended Play is enjoyable enough, but it's clear that Ladytron saved their best material for Witching Hour. Still, there are enough good moments here that the EP is worthwhile for fans who didn't splurge on the singles already, especially because the bonus DVD features the tundra-fabulous video for "Destroy Everything You Touch"; the trippy, big-budget clip for "Sugar"; and "Once Upon a Time in the East: Ladytron in China," a mostly-entertaining, 27-minute documentary that includes interviews, and concert and behind-the-scenes footage. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide