Lykke Li – No Rest for the Wicked
SoundCloud
Allegedly the last act of a trilogy, I Never Learn is a finale which hosts a truly conflicted heart. If you strip Lykke Li’s latest album down to its lyrics and thematic nature, then you’re presented with quite the emotional duality. On one hand, you have the confessions of a heartbroken woman who has become weary and war torn when it comes to love. Despite this, there’s also a resolve to her that longs to prove her more cynical side wrong. It’s here that a vivacious cycle forms.
This cycle is the core strength to I Never Learn. By presenting herself in a frank and explicitly honest light clutching onto an empathetic chunk of human nature, Lykke Li has made herself incredibly tangible through her songwriting. There are moments on the album with which you can relate oh so easily, and there are moments that, although perhaps a little more alienated and isolated, have you wanting to reach out and console this woman. All songwriters aspire to find this kind of connection with their audience, not many actually manage to do it. Here, though, Lykke Li has lifted up the divide between audience and artist in a very straightforward and significant fashion.
Musically, the album is a no frills kind of affair, presenting itself with the same organic, analog instrumentation we’ve heard her use before — except this time round it’s formed very much in the mold of classic power ballads. The album’s main mechanism is to mix quiet and loud, hushed and soaring. It’s the oldest trick in the book, but because of how it’s delivered here, it doesn’t feel tired or overused. Steady pacing and little flourishes like the simple, but beautiful string arrangement in the albums title track, the moody drone-like backdrop of “Gunshot” and the rousing vocal work on “Heart of Steel”, are just a few examples of how little things make a big difference.
However, there are a few rough edges to be found throughout, and there’s one track in particular which claims the lion’s share. Although I have no qualms with the lyrical nature of “Love Me Like I’m Not Made Of Stone” (if anything it’s another strong example of her songwriting ability), the instrumentation behind the song though is a little bit thorny. The recording of the guitar sounds really rough and abrasive in comparison to the rest of the record’s production value. Li’s vocals overpower and overshadow the instrumentation, and because of this, her voice (which for the rest of the record resonates wonderfully) sounds forced and somewhat jarring. Outside of this, I Never Learn stamps a proud mark on Lykke Li’s career. This is truly what an accomplished and evocative record sounds like.
