To internet music geeks everywhere Robyn needs absolutely no introduction. Queen of the blogosphere in 2006, the self-titled Robyn has been imported from Sweden and analysed time and time again. But then, even the casual music fan probably knows who she is – after all her big 1998 hit Show Me Love is a stalwart of every 1990s compilation, and little did we know Beverley Knight’s Keep The Fire Burning is a Robyn classic. Now almost 10 years after her original success, Robyn finally returns to the UK celebrating her new found independence as CEO of Konichiwa Records with the fierce Konichiwa Bitches. Like Peaches, but more goofy, it’s the first of two rap-laden tracks on the album, the second being a sweet cover of fellow Swedes Teddybears STHLM track Cobrastyle. Where Robyn’s skills really lie is in creating the perfect bittersweet love song. Be Mine! is emotionally choking. An agitated cello and an urgent drumbeat accompany the description of a feeling we can all relate to, loving someone who doesn’t love you back. There’s no time to wipe the tears away with the rather sublime With Every Heartbeat following, produced by Kleerup (former member of Teddybears and the drummer in Robyn’s live band). The fact that we’ve not even left room to comment on how the mighty Knife produced the glistening steel-drum ridden Who’s That Girl, the perkiness of the cute Bum Like Me or how Jamelia would kill for a ballad as elegant as Handle Me shows quite how magnificent Robyn is. Whether the public end up welcoming her back is quite a different matter, but if you’re after pop with feeling – you won’t want to miss this.
