The worst part about the stage name MØ is how to pronounce it (for the record, we think it’s pronounced ‘moo’). The accent on the ‘O’ is Danish, and the name translated means maiden, which is also the name of the first single from this album.
In a time when acts like Lorde are dominating the entire world, it’s the perfect opportunity for a unique voice like MØ to make a much-deserved break. Her style is very similar to the likes of Grimes and Purity Ring, but what makes this album stand out is the high production value and her fearlessness towards incorporating dubstep-inspired beats. Still, at the heart of this album is MØ’s soulful and quite versatile voice, which makes her music so catchy and powerful.
Opening track Fire Rides sweeps in with a soft melody before a simple guitar breaks the grinding beat that will get your hips moving. The chorus sounds very familiar but it’s still fun. As the first single, Maiden is not the standout it should be. The synthesised claps and snare drums are a little overused and it sounds fairly generic for her playful vocals. Sounding a lot like Lana Del Rey, Never Wanna Know is the most emotional track on the album. It’s a lot softer in comparison to the rest of her stuff, and is beautifully layered with thundering chimes and keys.
Red in the Grey is much more M.I.A. than Lorde. Luckily her vocals provide the delicate touch needed to prevent this track becoming another cheesy club anthem. Pilgrim is incredibly catchy, with the big synth-horn opening and multi-layered vocals – it’s very reminiscent of Bat for Lashes. Don’t Wanna Dance is the most commercially-appealing track on the album, with a xylophone chord emphasising every spoken syllable before launching into the up-beat and much dancier chorus.
Waste of Time isn’t exactly as the name suggests, but it’s among the weakest tracks on the album. Dust Is Gone starts out like another Lana Del Rey-esque hymn, with soft melodies and minimal synth backing – it’s hard not to get lost in her voice. XXX 88, Walk This Way and Slow Love are much of the same, without adding anything new to her sound. Luckily things pick up with the second single from the album, Glass, which is a great way to finish the album.
BY CHRIS BRIGHT
Best Track: Never Wanna Know
If You Like These, You’ll Love This: GRIMES, PURITY RING, LORDE, THE NAKED & FAMOUS, LANA DEL REY and BAT FOR LASHES
In A Word: Seductive
