• Reviews

• All
• Music
• DVDs
• Live
• Cinema
• TV
• Books
• Comic Books
• Video Games

Mar 19, 2014 Issue #49 - February/March 2014 - Portlandia By Lily Moayeri

As the vocalist for The Cardigans, whose success with “Lovefool” and “My Favourite Game” put the group in mainstream pop consciousness, Nina Persson‘s voice has a larger presence than the individual behind it. Working with A Camp, her other band, as well as Cake Sale, and numerous other guest appearances, Animal Heart is Persson’s first wholly solo album.

Persson’s voice is so accessible and pleasing, the music has no choice but to follow. Simple, frothy, tinkling pop melodies thread Animal Heart. Persson’s signature stretching out of syllables brings a familiarity to the album. The title track leads the happy march for Animal Heart with a skipping bounce. The gentle movements of “Jungle” and the chimes of “Clip Your Wings” belie the imagery those tracks’ names conjure. The repetition of phrases and rhyming sequences make these uncomplicated songs more stickable than you would expect.

There is a sameness to the songs, but it doesn’t work against the album as much as makes it a cohesive listen. Persson does what she knows best on Animal Heart: putting together a bunch of easy pop songs that anyone can enjoy. (www.facebook.com/ninaperssonofficial)

Author rating: 6/10