Popular in the early to mid 2000’s, electroclash is a dying genre of music that I’m already becoming nostalgic for. According to Wikipedia, the name electroclash “derives from the early ’80s electropop bands who provide the majority of electroclash’s musical influence. Lyrics are generally tongue-in-cheek and punk inspired, and often more given to attitude and pose than poetics or theme; while the vocal delivery is typically atonal to the point of caricature.” A genre often reviled for its vapidness, I can’t help but be charmed by its dance-inducing pop sensibilities.

Chicks on Speed, Peaches, Tracy and the Plastics, A.R.E. Weapons, and W.I.T. were the superstars of the genres, and while these bands have mostly peetered out, a few others have remained more prominently at the forefront of my memory.

Below is a chilling 2005 video from Liverpool-based band Ladytron, proceeded by LA’s own Mount Sims, and then a finale by the Russian Futurists (my anthem for the year 2003), “Let’s Get Ready to Crumble”.

Ladytron - Destroy Everything You Touch

Buy Ladytron’s Witching Hour at Amazon.com

Mount Sims - How We Do

Buy Mount Sims’ Ultra Sex at Amazon.com

The Russian Futurists - Let’s Get Ready to Crumble

Buy The Russian Futurists’ Let’s Get Ready To Crumble at Amazon.com

Bonus: Just remembered this old video from self-proclaimed “art-band” Fischerspooner. It starts slow - skip past the first 1:30 to get to the action.

Fischerspooner - Emerge

Buy Fischerspooner’s #1 at Amazon.com