https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXtATeQ7GKg La Roux was a key player in the decades movement of brilliantly sassy independent female artists. She looked to the 80s for inspiration and channelled its synth pop into a 00s context. With this song she articulated feminine independence with the brilliantly nasty chorus of Im going in for the kill, Im doing it for the thrill, Im hoping you understand, and dont let go of my hand. Over a soundtrack that sounded like an Ecstasy rush, it brilliantly utilised minimalistic synths, drum machines and a falsetto vocal that locked onto that killer chorus. The four note keyboard riff was reminiscent of Kraftwerk at their peak. Despite a haircut that was pure 80s Annie Lennox, this was a very Twenty First century take on girl power. Focused, independent and insouciant. Whilst contemporaries such as Goldfrapp made supremely accomplished records, they didnt possess the edge of In for the kill. This sounded and looked as alien as David Bowie did in the film The man who fell to earth. Yes, that androgynous, otherworldly and beguiling. La Roux certainly wrote other songs that were equally as powerful, Bulletproof being a case in point. But In for the kill was a brilliantly contemporary mix of selfishness and vulnerability. Delivering it in the most polished of fashions made it a perfect fit with the 00s ideal be slick, be quick and be better than the competition.
What makes music fantastic? Star quality, amazing music, breathtaking lyrics and the ability to bring something new to the table, even if that means a new take on the classics. That's what I love to listen to and write about.
As well as writing for What Culture, I occasionally write a blog http://tedney.blogspot.co.uk and sometimes use Twitter, but sparingly @TedneyNash