Lykke Li is having a productive day. The Swedish singer performed to a jam-packed Tower Records this afternoon as part of the shop’s Record Store Day celebrations, and now, she’s due on stage for a highly-anticipated Tripod appearance. As the crowd awaits her arrival, the empty stage evokes mystery and intrigue, with the singer’s trademark black curtains being billowed by enough fog to cause a shipwreck. Li emerges through the haze, barely visible and without a word, launches into ‘Jerome’ from second album Wounded Rhymes.
And so sets the scene for the evening. Li’s distinctively raspy voice, teamed with five-piece band, brings the quirky folk pop stylings of Youth Novels and Wounded Rhymes to life. Not one for rambling anecdotes, the occasional minxy comment like, “Don’t you agree tonight is gonna be sensual?” ensures that this crowd is putty in her hands. ‘I’m Good, I’m Gone’ and newbie ‘Sadness Is A Blessing’ go down a treat, with Li fully embracing the show’s ethereal tone – she traipses around like a crazy person, her dress and hair flowing like the curtains that occasionally engulf her. It’s a percussion-heavy set (there’s two drumkits) and Li throws in her tuppence worth with the occasional manic crash on her own set of cymbals
As the set continues, both albums are represented nicely, and her band provide gorgeous harmonies on ‘Dance Dance Dance’ and, um, a Big Pink cover (didn’t see that one coming). ‘A Little Bit’ is probably the highlight of the evening, with the crowd singing back every word. Li shows her flair for the dramatic when she falls to the floor after ‘Rich Kids Blues’. Worry not – an electro interlude brings her back to life and she’s in fighting form again for ‘Until We Bleed’. She finishes up with ‘Get Some’, saving ‘60s groove ‘Youth Knows No Pain’ and the beautiful ‘Unrequited Love’ for the encore. Enchanting.