There’s a huge clash of influences in the debut album from Denmark’s Karen Marie Ørsted (a.k.a MØ). Yet far from confusion, ‘No Mythologies To Follow’ is a collection of idiosyncratic songs that form a colourful and coherent singular vision.
Ørsted began her music career as one half of punk activist duo
Mor and this attitude still remains in her current work. Directly, her lyrics touch on social
commentary, discussing issues such as youth malaise and Denmark’s social
benefits (hence the album title). On Pilgrim, for instance, she sighs “Oh
what a world I was born into”, whilst on Glass
she longs for lost youth with the questioning chorus “Oh why does everyone
have to grow old?”. Yet on a higher
level there’s an edgy rebelliousness to her sound and a disregard for
convention, varying styles and genres bubbling away in a rich melting pot of
creativity.
The genres in question are predominantly electro, R&B
and hip-hop – but to define Ørsted’s sound would be a disservice. Electro beats, pulsating bass lines and
noodling guitars frequently collide in a weird and wonky mix that hypnotises as
much as it thrills. Pilgrim, one of her earliest releases, features a handclap beat and
brass stabs, whilst later singles like Waste
Of Time or Maiden lean more
heavily on electronica with their dark, minimal production and Glass is characterised by suitably
crystalline synths. Then there’s XXX 88 produced by Diplo, which takes
more of a dance approach but retains Ørsted’s trademark quirkiness.
MØ certainly has a distinct sound that does become slightly
repetitive. Yet there’s no time to be
bored, the album lurching from song to song (on the lengthy deluxe version
especially) and changing up the sound just enough to constantly entice
you. Walk
This Way stands out for its funky synth riffs and choppy vocal samples,
whilst Slow Love is pure house and Don’t Wanna Dance includes an almost Motown
(MØtown?) chorus. Never Wanna Know, however, sticks out like a sore thumb for its
retro soul sound, grating with the album as a whole. Individually, though, there are simply no bad
songs on ‘No Mythologies To Follow’.
Then there’s Ørsted’s vocal, so frequently compared to Lana
Del Rey. There’s certainly a laconic
drawling quality to it, slinking between a sultry lower range to a haunting
falsetto. If anything, though, her punky
ennui is more akin to the likes of Lorde or Sky Ferreira.
Above it all, MØ’s music is unashamedly pop. Her recent cover of the Spice Girl’s Say You’ll Be There is evidence enough
for her personal tastes and it continues in the catchy riffs and earworm
melodies throughout this album. In
short, this is one of the best alternative pop albums of the year so far and
another massive win for Scandinavia.
4/5
Gizzle’s Choice:
* Maiden
* Walk This Way
* Glass
Listen: 'No Mythologies To Follow' is available now.
