Ladytron are working on their third studio album for an early 2005 release, but first the Liverpool electro-popsters plan to reissue their first two records. Rykodisc, in association with the band's U.S. label, Emperor Norton, will put out Ladytron's 2001 debut, 604, and the follow-up, 2002's Light Magic, on July 20th, each with four additional tracks culled from live material and remixes.

The live recordings came from a show Ladytron did on their last tour in vocalist Mira Aroyo's hometown of Sofia, Bulgaria. "We were the first Western band to play there for two years, and it was completely incredible," keyboardist/producer Daniel Hunt says. They planned to release the show as a DVD, but some crucial bits of film disappeared with the cameraman. "He had to flee the country over some kind of political scandal," Hunt says. "We're not ruling out doing the DVD, but we'd rather wait and see if this footage ever turns up . . . if this guy ever is allowed back in the country."

Ladytron's gritty live sets are influencing the new record, which they hope to mix this fall. The group is working with producer Jim Abbiss (Placebo, the Music) and has about twenty-five songs prepped so far. "It's definitely tougher," Hunt says of the new material. "We haven't become a rock band, but it [reflects] the extremes of the live show. It's definitely dirtier."

Two songs -- "Destroy Everything You Touch" and "Sugar" -- will likely surface on a five-track EP/DVD due this fall. Other new tracks include band favorite "International Datelines," along with "White Light Generator" and "Vision Unknown," which, in an early version, is downright rootsy.

"No, we haven't gone country," Hunt says. "It's just 'cause the demo is all guitar. It was twangy electric. We did this version as a guide with just the guitar and Helen's [singer Marnie] vocal and made the classic mistake of playing it and having people say, 'Oh I think that sounds really nice. Why don't you leave it like that?' And we're like, 'No! Fuck off! We want some distorted monosynth.'"

Reissue bonus tracks:

604

"USA vs. White Noise" (live in Sofia, Bulgaria)
"He Took Her to a Movie" (live in Sofia)
"Commodore Rock" (live in Sofia)
"Playgirl" (Snap Ant remix)

Light & Magic

"Seventeen" (Soulwax mix)
"Cracked LCD" (live in Sofia, Bulgaria)
"Light & Magic" (live in Sofia)
"Evil" (Pop Levi mix)