Robyn - Body Talk Pt. 1 Review

Posted by Adam Hill on 06.22.2010

Swedish synth-pop diva Robyn is so anxious to bring us her latest music that she’s releasing three albums this year. How does the first installment sound and does it bode well for the next two releases? 411’s Adam Hill has the answers.




1) Don’t Fucking Tell Me What To Do
2) Fembot
3) Dancing On My Own
4) Cry When You Get Older
5) Dancehall Queen
6) None Of Dem
7) Hang With Me (Acoustic)
8) Jag Vet En Dejilg Rosa



”Dancing On My Own”


It’s been clear, ever since she started her own Konichiwa label, that Robyn is a woman who isn’t afraid to go her own way. Five years after the release of her last album, the eponymous Robyn, she has found herself bursting with new material and is desperate to share it with us, the record buying public. So desperate is she that, rather than release one full album, she is going to put out three mini-albums before the end of 2010. ”I got all these great songs so why not?” she told Swedish magazine Bon. If her remaining material is as strong as the contents of Body Talk Pt. 1, it would appear to be a very wise move.

Evidently Robyn has spent much of the last five years rummaging around in a big bag marked ideas and has pulled out a few crackers for our enjoyment. Body Talk Pt. 1 is a veritable smorgasbord of musical styles. Dancehall, ballad, vicious electro-pop, dark-house, spoken word and even a traditional Swedish folk song (sang almost a cappella) are all here, nestled snuggly up against one another in 30 minutes of pure pop enjoyment.

Opening track “Don’t Fucking Tell Me What To Do”, where she intones about everything that is ‘killing’ her over a cheery electro-bubble of a track, is like spitting on the floor in front of a policeman – its got attitude. “Fembot” is an insanely catchy ‘fuck you’ that is presumably directed at a former lover who thought her somewhat emotionless. From then on in we move into what Robyn does best, heartache on the dance floor.

“Dancing On My Own” is gloriously ‘80’s in feel. From the Kate Bush-esque vocals to the way that, despite being about losing a lover to another and all the associated pain that brings, it’s sung over a wonderfully upbeat club-friendly track. This is arch-pop. Heartache, loneliness, lost love, all layered over an achingly cool synth sound and delicious hooks, with a chorus that you’ll wake up singing for days.

In fact, the only reason you might not wake up singing “Dancing On My Own”, is because “Cry When You Get Older” and “Dancehall Queen” may have usurped it from your head! The album is stacked with memorable choruses and insatiable hooks. Even when the pace slows with the sultry, dark Royksopp collaboration, “None Of Dem” and the soulful acoustic “Hang With Me”, none of the appeal is lost. Unless you speak Swedish, you won’t understand closer “Jag Vet En Dejilg”. You will however, enjoy its simplistic beauty and apparent melancholy as Robyn’s delicate vocal is accompanied by nothing more than occasional bells. That it doesn’t feel out of place at all on the album is testament to both its quality and the variety on offer throughout.

The variety of musical styles and the universal appeal of the songs will have this on repeat play on your stereo. Any fan of synth-styled pure-pop will love it. Roll on Pt.2.

The 411: It may only be 30 minutes long and it may only be 8 tracks, but Body Talk Pt.1 is a (mini) album packed to bursting with attitude, sexuality, heartbreak and memorable choruses that will magically appear in your head later in the day. It’s full of insatiable hooks greedy for your attention and appreciation and a variety of musical styles and ideas. As an opening salvo in a proposed three part onslaught it is immense and Body Talk Pt.2 cannot come soon enough.

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]