Lykke Li
(LL/Atlantic)
22-year-old Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson ain't your average Swedish pop/dance star. With her parents' music background (mum an ex-punk, daddy playing reggae) and her early love of Michael Jackson and Suicide (!), her own music was bound to be a strange stew of influences. After an embarrassing intro about mind/body/soul that Prince wouldn't dare, she crafts fascinating musical vehicles for her lithe voice and swelling choruses.
Along with the buoyant, sexy "Little Bit" single which launched her career, the tales of heartache are wrapped around lo-fi go-go ("Dance, Dance, Dance"), old school soul that Amy Winehouse would love ("I'm Good, I'm Gone," "Breaking It Up"), minimal techno bass and drums ("Let It Fall"), gentle folk that Bert Jansch would love ("My Love") and trip-hop atmospherics ("Hanging High"). Though it sags a little bit at the end, chalk this up as an intriguing, very likeable debut which should give her countrywoman Robyn ("Konichiwa Bitches") a run for her money.
Standout Tracks: "Little Bit," "I'm Good, I'm Gone" JASON GROSS
