WAY back in April I wrote about a four track EP titled Little Bit from the latest Swedish sensation Lykke Li. At that time I mentioned that her debut album was out in her home country but we here in the States had to settle for the EP. Well on August 19th, we'll have to wait no longer to hear what those Swedes have been listening to for a while now: Youth Novels.

Three of the tracks from that earlier EP come from the album, and the remaining eleven tracks continue on in a similar vein, but go artistically further. Everything I said earlier still holds true: airy and delicate sounds beneath delicate and distinct vocals. The album starts out with Melodies & Desires, a track that feels like it comes from a new age workshop in a Buddhist monastery. Lykke does a wonderful job of using less to achieve more. On many tracks you'll feel like the instrumentation comes from objects found lying around the house mixed with a drum machine and Lykke's elfin voice. Put it all together and you get a simple, playful, innocence that's enchanting.





08.25.08 - Los Angeles, CA - Hotel Café (SOLD OUT)
08.28.08 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge
10.19.08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat
10.23.08 - Boston, MA - Paradise
10.24.08 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club
10.25.08 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
10.28.08 - Vancouver, BC - Richards on Richards
10.29.08 - Seattle, WA - Neumo's
10.30.08 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
11.01.08 - San Francisco, CA - Independent
11.03.08 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey