LYKKE LI - YOUTH NOVELS
The debut full-length by Sweden’s latest indie-pop export, 22-year old
Lykke Li, was crafted under the mentorship of Bjorn Yttling, who
enlisted his bandmates Peter and John to lend a hand with the intricate
arrangements. The result is an atmospheric collection of tunes that
jump between genres with reckless abandon, occasionally leaning too
heavily on Li’s timid and fragile vocal turns. The lack of cohesion
yields as many monotonous missteps (“My Love,” “Melodies &
Desires”) as soulful gems like sexy single “Little Bit” and loner
anthem “Everybody But Me.” But the sparse instrumentation of standout
“Tonight” makes way for a simple yet arresting chorus (“Don’t you let
me go tonight”), one that’s a dramatic showcase for Li’s angelic
vulnerability. ROB DUFFY