Lykke Li
Youth Novels
2008
LL Recordings
www.lykkeli.com
I stumbled onto the music of Lykke Li through a YouTube video featuring the members of her band and Bon Iver performing her tune "Dance Dance Dance" in Los Angeles near a fountain, with various La Blogotheque-style percussion bits an her odd dancing over a sweetly naive tune about expressing oneself through dance. It was the moment when her melody as she sang "words can never make up for what you do" took a soulful dive, unexpected and brilliant, that I began to be intruiged by the Swedish indie popper.
As I dived into her debut album, I was both caught by and pleased with the oddly organic production by Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn, and John, Kanye's favorite Swedes. The vintage engineering on their most recent collection is present somewhat, yet the open and live feel of Youth Novels lends a folk glow to the firmly pop tunes. "Little Bit," with its sly declarations of obsession and faithfulness to a lover, ending with the clever understatement "I'm a little bit in love with you..." illustrates Lykke's skill in blending Feist-like sugary melody with an edge of 60s or 70s American soul and doo-wop.
Lykke's unbeguiling lilt of a voice is still the centerpiece of the album, weaving hooks all around the simple and dancey arrangements. It is an easy listen, but the depth of the style saves it from too much kitsch, while also embracing the simple joys of light, unironic pop music. She falls on the indier side of a new wave of intelligent and stylish female front-women, with great producers and smart tunes, like Feist, El Perro Del Mar, St. Vincent, and even more pop folks like Estelle and the like.
Youth Novels
2008
LL Recordings
www.lykkeli.com
I stumbled onto the music of Lykke Li through a YouTube video featuring the members of her band and Bon Iver performing her tune "Dance Dance Dance" in Los Angeles near a fountain, with various La Blogotheque-style percussion bits an her odd dancing over a sweetly naive tune about expressing oneself through dance. It was the moment when her melody as she sang "words can never make up for what you do" took a soulful dive, unexpected and brilliant, that I began to be intruiged by the Swedish indie popper.
As I dived into her debut album, I was both caught by and pleased with the oddly organic production by Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn, and John, Kanye's favorite Swedes. The vintage engineering on their most recent collection is present somewhat, yet the open and live feel of Youth Novels lends a folk glow to the firmly pop tunes. "Little Bit," with its sly declarations of obsession and faithfulness to a lover, ending with the clever understatement "I'm a little bit in love with you..." illustrates Lykke's skill in blending Feist-like sugary melody with an edge of 60s or 70s American soul and doo-wop.
Lykke's unbeguiling lilt of a voice is still the centerpiece of the album, weaving hooks all around the simple and dancey arrangements. It is an easy listen, but the depth of the style saves it from too much kitsch, while also embracing the simple joys of light, unironic pop music. She falls on the indier side of a new wave of intelligent and stylish female front-women, with great producers and smart tunes, like Feist, El Perro Del Mar, St. Vincent, and even more pop folks like Estelle and the like.
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