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In an interview earlier this year, Robyn stated her plans for 2010: three albums released at regular intervals before Christmas under the united title of Body Talk. An ambitious project you have to admit. However, if ever there was an artist who could carry this off, and do a bloody good job of it, then Robyn is the one to look at. So with this week seeing the European release of Body Talk Pt. 1 she has laid down the pop gauntlet so listen up: this album is essential pop listening.
Don’t agree? Well then consider this; since her miraculous international comeback in 2007 with the release of her fourth studio album she has been the Queen Midas of the pop world. Every single that she released were pop gems; the album itself became the best reviewed pop album of the noughties and she has amassed an impressive list of collaborations with Snoop Dogg (where her remix of ‘Sensual Seduction’ has been widely accepted as the best version), Röyksopp and I Blame Coco.
With Body Talk Pt. 1 all of Robyn’s perfectly manicured facets are on display with each move allowing her to excel in yet another way. However, with all these different strengths there is one thing that Robyn is able to do that even the recently crowned Princess of Pop Lady Gaga is unable to do; sound effortlessly cool and sing all her songs with such emotional conviction that it never feels forced. Robyn can be dancing with tears in her eyes (‘Dancing On My Own’), revelling in her dancehall crossover (‘Dancehall Queen’) or being ultimately pugnacious (‘Don’t Fucking Tell Me What To Do’) and you believe everything she sings.
There is such emotion in her voice that songs like ‘Hang With Me (Acoustic)’ and ‘Jag Vet En Dejlig Rosa’ are both in their ways heartbreaking yet soothing as she croons over a minimalist backing. Yet suddenly she can go through a metamorphosis and emerges in her ‘Fembot’ persona being sick of all those haters (‘None of Dem’) as she grinds her way through masterful production provided by the likes of Diplo, Röyksopp and Klas Åhlund. She flits between personas offering words of wisdom, then encouragement (‘Cry When You Get Older’) and then suddenly punches you in the face but yet somehow it feels like all of these form coherent parts of her personality.
The one complaint is that this album ends far too soon with the run time not even reaching half an hour. Then again, that was the point all along wasn’t it? She makes a truly compelling mini pop album which sets the scene of what is to come which begs the question of what Body Talk Pt. 2 will bring to the fore. Will there be more of her ‘Fembot’ attitude on display? Does ‘Dancing On My Own’ have a happy ending or is she resigned to her fate as the ‘Dancehall Queen’? All we know is that in anticipation of Robyn’s next pop master class there is only one befitting battle cry which correctly emphasises this reviewer’s giddy expectations: bring it on!
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