Lykke Li is set to release her highly-anticipated sophomore album, Wounded Rhymes, on her label LL Recordings on March 1st, 2011. Produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn & John and recorded in Stockholm, Wounded Rhymes is the follow up to Lykke Li’s critically-acclaimed debut, Youth Novels.
As one of 2008’s most talked-about albums, Youth Novels – a postmodern pop masterpiece combining elements of folk music, hip hop, singer/songwriter confessionals and more – established Lykke Li Zachrisson as a true innovator of melody and style. Released when she was just 22, her voice alternated between a world-weary sigh and a coquettish coo, simultaneously eschewing protection while wanting to be looked after; evoking a steely strength behind her eyelash-batting shyness. Youth Novels skyrocketed to the top of many of the year’s Best Of lists, and saw Lykke Li sell out tours across the globe, including lauded sets at massive festivals such as Coachella and Lollapalooza, an appearance on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, an incredible heartbroken song called “Possibility” as the centerpiece of the Twilight-New Moon soundtrack and more.
Her new album, Wounded Rhymes, is one of the most tremendous records you will hear in 2011. Channeling the demise of The Shangri-La’s Leader of the Pack, women under the influence, ladies and gentlemen of the canyon, a Kung-fu Marianne Faithful, and an armed Nancy Sinatra on peyote, Lykke Li has created an eleven song album that sounds like no other. The record is packed full of pounding, voodoo drums, girl group gang vocals, sparkling guitar lines, woozy keyboards, love unrequited, hope reignited and her own very powerful voice, sounding bigger and bolder than ever before. From the hazy 60’s organ driving opener “Youth Knows No Pain” to the sparse toe-tap-solo-guitar-swing of “Unrequited Love” to rollicking single “Get Some” to the dense drums of the propulsive “Jerome,” Wounded Rhymes is a testament to Lykke Li’s brilliant musical voice, one unlike any other.
Following her sold out appearance at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City on December 1st, Lykke Li will be playing a very special show at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre on March 9th. She will then launch a full North American tour this spring, stay tuned for dates!
Free download of her new single, Get Some, available here, and check out her kick-ass new video below.
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TTPGAy5H_E 425×344]
Reprinted with permission, credit: Roger Deckker.
PHOTO COURTESY OF: LL Recordings.
