Robyn: Body Talk – review

(Konichiwa/Island)

It's no use cherishing expectations of Robin Carlsson: she's only going to contradict them. The final instalment in her Body Talk project, which has seen her release three albums over five months, proves the point: a collection of new material was anticipated, but Robyn provides only four new songs (five if you count a vibrant rerecording of Indestructible), interspersed among highlights from the first two albums – even Dancehall Queen, a dreadful bit of cod reggae with hints of Martika's Toy Soldiers, makes it in. You could argue that Robyn does sexy, bolshy, catchy pop so effortlessly – as evidenced again by the new tracks, especially Call Your Girlfriend – that Body Talk should have been edited into a straightforward killer pop album. But it's the fierce, contrary spirit driving the swaggering rap of U Should Know Better, or We Dance to the Beat's icy electro, that makes Robyn really fascinating.

Contributor

Maddy Costa

The GuardianTramp

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