Lykke Li

With a teenhood spent travelling around Asia and Europe, 22-year-old Swedish superkid Lykke Li has already seen more of the world than most aircraft. It’s these nomadic experiences that she’s channelled into her disparate (a good thing) debut. It starts, not inexplicably, like Madonna (‘The Immaculate Collection’ was the only album Lykke owned when living on a Portuguese mountain), with ‘Melodies & Desires’ a Madge-esque spoken monologue, then ‘Dance Dance Dance’ – the first time she unleashes her coochy-coo voice. Thereafter the highlights are many: ‘I’m Good, I’m Gone’, ‘Let It Fall’, and of course, ‘Little Bit’, all terrifically pure, satisfyingly primitive pop songs. Simple but sensational.

Greg Cochrane

Lykke Li - 'Youth Novels' available now from the NME Store.

8 out of 10