Swedish indie pop artist Lykke Li Zachrisson (better known as Lykke Li) grabbed the attention of bloggers the world over in the mid 2000s with a handful of catchy and genuinely impressive retro-chic singles made available on her MySpace profile. Armed with sensuous, barely-there vocals and backed up by a quirky, bass-heavy, ever-so-slightly lo-fi sound (courtesy of Peter Bjorn and John's Björn Yttling, who produced her first discs), Lykke Li released her debut EP, a three-track affair entitled Little Bit, on her fledgling label, LL Recordings, in 2007. The disc's title track went on to earn a good deal of buzz among indie pop-centric bloggers and, perhaps to a greater extent, the mainstream Swedish music press soon after it was released. Lykke Li made her first appearance on Swedish MTV that year, performing an acoustic version of "Tonight" on Phaser, and the video for "Little Bit" was nominated for Best Video at that year's Swedish Grammy Awards. Her debut full-length, Youth Novels, was slated for release in 2008. - allmusic.com

Youth Novels
LL Recordsings
8.19.2008

 

Lykke Li: she is a sassy Swedish performer who derives her infectiously cool pop treatments from sometimes minimalist, occasionally odd, yet always catchy musical elements. A simple, back alley percussive rhythm here, a 60s girl group chorus there, a few do-wopping saxophone lines thrown in to boot; a fine comb through her music reveals just how patchwork it really is. But listeners will also discover just how deliberate, and meticulously pieced together (all conceived under the watchful eye of Peter, Bjorn, and Johns Bjrn Yttling) it is as well. This is perfect pop fit for mass consumption. So, please, by all means, consume this!

Working her way through selections from her debut album Youth Novels, this performance from the Bowery Ballroom in New York demonstrates exactly why theres an awful lot of North American hysteria swirling around the Swedish newcomer these days. Free spirited, off the hinge, and slightly freakish all at once, Lykke Li is completely unique. Expect to be hearing from her for quite some time to come. - david pitz

www.lykkeli.com