Trouble in Paradise＜限定盤/Colored Vinyl＞

La Rouxのセカンド・アルバム『Trouble in Paradise』の10周年を記念して140gカラー・ヴァイナルで限定リマスター盤が発売!
アルバムはアビー・ロード・スタジオでリマスター。
「Trouble in Paradise」は全英アルバム・チャートで6位、全米ビルボード200で20位に初登場し、ダンス/エレクトロニック・アルバム・チャートで首位を獲得したLa Roux初のアルバム。

Naming her long-awaited second album Trouble in Paradise might have been tempting fate if La Roux's Elly Jackson hadn't endured plenty of hardships between 2009's self-titled debut and its follow-up. Writer's block, the departure of collaborator Ben Langmaid, panic attacks that left Jackson unable to sing, and extensive recording sessions all delayed her return to the point that "where are they now?" stories seemed more likely than a second album. However, the lasting impact of La Roux's whip-smart synth pop -- which became a template for countless other '80s-worshiping acts during Jackson's absence -- proved her music could still be relevant five years later. She wastes no time reminding listeners of her charms with Trouble in Paradise's opening tracks: "Uptight Downtown" (which borrows starkly echoing guitars from David Bowie's "Let's Dance") and "Kiss and Not Tell" offer more of "Quicksand" and "Bulletproof"'s cleverly bouncy pop, minus some bite. Elsewhere, Jackson downplays the stiff electronics that made such an intriguing contrast with her emotive singing and lyrics on La Roux. She trades them for a warmer, disco and reggae-inspired sound that shines on "Tropical Chancer"'s electro-calypso hybrid (which also evokes Bananarama's similarly sunburnt and heartbroken "Cruel Summer"). Jackson also uses this softer sound to explore more vulnerable songwriting territory: much of Trouble in Paradise teeters between independence and codependence, whether it's "Cruel Sexuality"'s stifled desire or the boundary setting of "Let Me Down Gently." Jackson's feisty side doesn't resurface until "Silent Partner," where the relentless bassline and expansive length seem to nod to the success La Roux's singles had as dance remixes. With songs like this, Trouble in Paradise proves Jackson is still better than many of her contemporaries when it comes to making fizzy electro-pop. ~ Heather Phares

キツネの強力な後ろ盾と、煌びやかな楽曲で一躍時代の寵児となったラ・ルー。しかし成功の代償は大きく、シンガーのエレノアはプレッシャーに押し潰されて一時は活動休止を余儀なくされたとか。ミックスCD『Sidetracked』を挿み、前作から5年を経て到着したこの2作目は、復活作であると同時にエレノアのソロ体制になって初のアルバムでもある。さぞや強い意気込みで作ったのだろうと構えたが、歌声は非常にマイルドでリラックス・ムード満点。成熟した大人のシンセ・ポップへと転じている。元相方のベンが共作者として、前作に続きイアン・シャーウィンがプロデューサーとして関与し、デヴィッド・ボウイやユーリズミックスを彷彿とさせる80s的なセンスに、さらなる磨きがかかった印象だ。
bounce (C)青木正之