REVIEW: Body Talk By Robyn

Easily the most slept on pop artist of 2010, Robyn announced she’d release a trilogy of records over the space of last year. And with over 17 years in the game she obviously had every belief that she could pull it off.

She kicked things off with the excellent Body Talk Part 1 in June and followed it up in September with the equally catchy Part 2. No one expected a third release to eventuate with only a couple of months left in 2010, but true to her word, sort of, the simply titled Body Talk hit stores in December.

I say sort of because this third album features five songs from part one, five from part two, and five brand new recordings. If you don’t own the first two already, then you’re in for a feast of pure dance pop genius. The competition killers ‘Dancing On My Own’ and ‘Hang With Me’ are both included along with the reggae-tinged ‘Dancehall Queen’ and the thumping Röyksopp assisted ‘None Of Dem’. But if, like me, you’ve copped all three, then you might feel a little cheated.

It’s not until track four’s retro pulsing version of ‘Indestructible’ that you get your first taste of what’s new, and the track’s Jeff Wayne War of the Worlds feel doesn’t disappoint. That’s followed by the Max Martin produced ‘Time Machine’ with its catchy, if a little forgettable, chorus that should give most radio programmers a boner. ‘Call Your Girlfriend’ sees Robyn back in fine Euro form, and ‘Stars 4-Ever’ feels like it could have been written for the next Madonna album. The only other new track is ‘Get Myself Together’ and it’s classic Robyn with a pinch of New Order flavour.

Considering that the amount of quality work that this girl has put out in one year is far beyond what most chat-toppers can dream to create. I’m gonna score this as if the first two parts hadn’t come before.

By Matt Ruys