There are two things in life that are true; death and taxes. If there's a third item to add to that list, I'm pretty sure it's that little, white Swedish girls can really throw down.
Last Wednesday, Lykke Li performed at Club Soda, in Montreal. Considering I only paid $26.00 for my ticket, it was by far one of the best shows I've seen in a long, long time. Battling obvious fatigue and a sore throat she still managed to whip the crowd into a lather. Pausing frequently, between numbers to drink, she still managed to deliver. The pint sized indie poptart blew the lid off the venue from the moment the first note escaped her lips. She cavorted, she stomped and she jumped her way through her song set much to the the delight of the mixed audience. Lykke e sang the big hits from her debut album, Youth Novels which included, Little Bit, the touching Tonight, I'm Good, I'm Gone, Breaking It Up and the body bumping, ball busting Complaint Department.
Lykke's voice is ethereal. It reminds me of Julee Cruise from Twin Peaks fame but that's where the similarities end. Cruise's voice was often set against the brooding and forbodding music of composer Angelo Badalementi. In contrast, Li mixes her voice with syncopated rhythms that pound in your chest cavity and thump through your veins. It's infectious and fun but not in a Lady Gaga, Britney Spears kind of way. Li is the master, you become the slave. There's no choice, you have to surrender to the beat.
Admittedly, I've been a fan of Lykke's for a few months; she had me at hello. Her album is on heavy rotation in my car. Sure, I'm biaised so sue me! At the tender age of 22, Lykke drops hot, bombastic, heart thumping beats like a seasoned veteran. What the hell were you doing at 22?
