Lykke Li

Drums and mist in Glasgow, from Sweden

Lykke Li performed at the O₂ ABC at the weekend. I went along, eager to see the Swedish chanteuse move her hips. I have lately much enjoyed her second album, Wounded Rhymes, which is clattering and tender.

The show was originally scheduled for April, but she injured her back in Marks and Spencer beforehand (dropping raspberries everywhere) and it was postponed. So anticipation was high and I had a great evening. Her set was disappointingly short, lasting just over an hour, but the music was at times tremendous.

Lykke Li proves her back is now fine.

Support beforehand was provided by First Aid Kit, two Swedish sisters backed by a long-haired dude with a cool jumper and a beard. Their powerful (loud) singing drives folky, campfire music that is reasonably good but in all rather too earnest. The cumulative impression I had was that their matching dresses were probably homemade.

When Lykke Li arrived, the onstage presence changed completely. Wearing black and continuously shrouded by dry ice, Lykke and her band were predominantly backlit by stark white lights. They were Nordic spectres, emerging from the mist to thundering music at the start; Lykke snaked her way to the front, smashing a cymbal with her hand along the way. As she sang opener Love Out of Lust, her fragile voice floated amid the band’s large, throbbing sound. It was bewitching.

The sound was big indeed, frequently percussive and pounding. Two drummers gave terrific force to the climactic moments, which were many (I'm Good, I'm Gone came second, but would have made a cracking finale), and their beats dominated the evening’s music. Lykke herself often got in on the action with her own sticks. She moves well too, swaying in a gossamer dress and punching her arms outwards. I Follow Rivers got us dancing with her, and it was fun.

My phone's approximation of the stage that night.

The mood was calmed by the stripped-down I Know Places. Her voice is not particularly strong, but with the band’s muscle returning for power ballad Sadness Is a Blessing (one of my favourites from the album), she gave a soulful performance. The delivery was straight, and it was a great moment.

However, after this slower section of the show, the momentum did not pick up again as it should have with the next song, Little Bit. Lykke encouraged us to sing along, but she was vague, dropping out unexpectedly of what is already a light track. She began to get impatient with us and looked uncomfortable. I worried.

Fears were banished by the final few songs. The stage was bathed in red light, the crowd got louder, and Lykke put on a cape. Rave-like beats took us into a rocking Rich Kids Blues. Then, Youth Knows No Pain provided the highlight of the night. The drums were back and it was loud and exciting. And it came with a miraculous twist: suddenly, the backing switched to Kanye West’s Power. Its repeated chant demanded participation, whilst Lykke continued to sing Youth Knows No Pain above. It was clever, unexpected and worked incredibly well.

With final song Get Some, Lykke’s dancing hit a peak. She may have earlier worried about the crowd, but we were sent out into the street elated, still hearing the drums and seeing her sway.