Album Review: So Sad So Sexy, LYKKE LI

“I want to be like Patti Smith, but with D’Angelo,” read the arresting letter that brought Lykke Li to the attention of twee-indie kingpin producer Bjorn Yttling. Li’s dreamy outlook on life – stemming from a childhood flitting between Sweden, Nepal and a Portuguese mountaintop – matched Yttling’s sound perfectly: her debut Youth Novels emerged just as his whistling anthem ‘Young Folks’ was inescapable. The collaboration struck even bigger at second attempt, with ‘I Follow Rivers’ from Wounded Rhymes becoming a global hit. Li seemed on the verge of superstardom. However, personal heartbreak and exhaustion saw her take a low-key approach with the introspective, confessional I Never Learn, and she briefly retired from performances in 2015. Now she returns, older, wiser and a mother, for another crack – this time without Yttling. Having previously worked with A$AP Rocky, hip-hop informs the album throughout. Kanye producer Jeff Bhaskin helms several tracks, and on ‘Two Nights’, Portland rapper Aminé provides welcome textural contrast on an otherwise plaintive ballad. Opener ‘Hard Rain’ is a highlight, marrying R&B slickness with some very Scandi atmospherics – Irish fans will be pleasantly reminded of Talos’ single ‘Tethered Bones’. An air of sexually-charged melancholy permeates the second half, with the strong hooks and lush production of ‘Bad Woman’ and the title-track making a powerful statement of intent. Lana Del Rey will be nervously glancing over her shoulder. Out June 9

Rating: 8/10