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Ladyhawke: Ladyhawke

Ladyhawke (aka Pip Brown) keeps her musical influences close to her heart. A self-confessed devotee of '80s syth-pop, Brown started her musical career in Wellington four-piece Two Lane Blacktop, before moving to Australia and joining the experimental Teenager. Deciding to go solo, her demos led to 'Ladyhawke' being recorded in London and Los Angeles in a series of sessions that lasted about a year, with production by Pascal Gabrielle (Kylie Minogue, Debbie Harry), and mixing from Tom Elmhirst (Sugarbabes, Amy Winehouse) and Tony Hoffer (Beck). The music is unashamedly '80s in tone, and owes much to Brown's influences, including Stevie Nicks, Cyndi Lauper, and The Bangles. Homegrown roots are here too, with shades of Shona Laing and Sharon O'Neill in her vocals, especially on From Dusk 'Till Dawn, which boasts unmistakable Kiwi vowels. The songs are all gems - Magic is an electro-pop classic, Paris is Burning an infectious dance floor filler, and Back of the Van is simply stunning. Morning Dreams is another highlight, pointing to 'Mirage'-era Fleetwood Mac sonics. 'Ladyhawke' is one of the best albums of 2008, an album of well-written synth pop that while rooted in the '80s has a very current appeal.

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