Quick, Before It Melts.

I've been really pumped this week by the glut of great new music I've been hearing. It's like 2008 has finally gotten underway. I've been pretty underwhelmed by the stuff that's come out so far, but judging by some of what I'm hearing, the year is far from being a write off.

Topping the list is the latest from electro-popsters Ladytron, who'll be releasing Velocerifo on June 3, 2008, via their new label, Nettwerk. This is the fourth album by the band, and sounds like their most accomplished work yet.With their last album, Witching Hour, the band's trademark electro-coolness got a healthy dose of humanism to make them sound more like a band and less synthetic. They've taken another huge leap forward on Velocifero, incorporating guitars, bass and drums along side the synth washes to make a very tight sounding, heart-pumping album.

The band have made the album's first track available via their website, and you can buy/listen to the first single, "Ghosts," from a variety of outlets now.