Swedish musicians from Abba to Ace of Base have been known to pop their way into the hearts of American music lovers for decades. In the past couple of years, Swedes have also made inroads on the mellow indie folk scene with artists like El Perro Del Mar and Peter Bjorn and John. Now, we have Stockholm native Lykke Li, whose music encompasses the best of both Swedish worlds. On her upcoming full-length, Youth Novels (due out in June), the singer-songwriter will be performing with Swedish pop master Robyn and Adam Olenius and Bebban Stenborg of the pop rock band Shout Out Louds for what is sure to be an album chock-full of sparkling, upbeat tracks.
But for now, on her EP Little Bit, Li is delving into the more mellow side of of things. With Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John on board as a co-writer and producer, Li has created a sparse set of songs buoyed along by her sweet vocals and a gentle rolling beat. It's the kind of music that has an effortless charm and should end up on numerous summer playlists. While these particular tunes may not be the thing for hardcore dance clubs, there's definitely enough bounce in the mix to get listeners on their feet and grooving.
"Dance, Dance, Dance" has an island flavor that will land it on plenty of party mixes, but the most enchanting track is a tune called "Everybody But Me." Riding comfortably between the melancholy and sunny sides of pop, the song glides along like a perfect serenade to summer malaise. When Li sings, "I get the creeps from all the people in here / I can't breathe in here," she perfectly captures the feeling of the individual turning her back on the "it" crowd. The EP's closing song, the slowed-down "Time Flies," doesn't have the shine of some of her other tunes, but Lykke Li is definitely on track to become the next Swedish artist to make it big in the US.
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