Robyn – The Rakamonie EP
Cherrytree Records (1/29/08)
Pop
Swedish pop star Robyn recently re-released this 2006 EP as her first domestic release in the United States in over ten years. Composed of five songs that are sexually charged and musically everywhere, overall, I enjoyed the release. My favorite would be the acoustic version of “With Every Heartbeat” which could easily be the “True Colors”-type song for Robyn.
“Konichiwa Bitches” is a head/drum-and-bass/hip-hop trip that I wasn’t expecting, bridging right into the incredibly similar “Cobrastyle”—so similar, in fact, that they could practically be the same, long song. However, I like “Cobrastyle”, because at this point, I’m convinced it’s really a 7-minute song instead of two separate ones. “Cobrastyle” could be remixed into a trance-type track and be very successful.
The newly packaged single “Be Mine!”, as a ballad, is incredibly effective, as Robyn has a blessed ability to have vulnerability without it feeling staged or contrived, and has intensity and an edge to her voice that deserves some mainstream cred. Finally, Robyn takes on Prince’s “Jack U Off” in a cabaret-type form and I’m mind-blown. Definitely what I wasn’t expecting, but it actually works for her.
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