BY Rob Duffy August 27, 2008 14:08
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