The fifth set of breezy, comforting dance-pop from
Zara Larsson
,
Midnight Sun
is inspired by the "never-ending" solar phenomenon that occurs during the summers in her native Sweden. Just as the sun never sets, this party never stops, and youth remains eternal for as long as possible.
Larsson
's vocals are the main draw, which remains a strong echo of
Rihanna
, while the production -- provided by longtime collaborator
MNEK
as well as
Margo XS
Zhone
, and
Helena Gao
-- leans toward the
Charli xcx
-
Caroline Polachek
spectrum of contemporary pop. There's a bevy of catchy beats that skitter and rattle throughout the tight ten-song set, from the euphoric hyperpop of the title track to the playful raver "Puss Puss" (which means "kiss kiss" in Swedish). The pounding electroclash "Pretty Ugly" is a defiant empowerment statement and might be the loudest, most aggressive song in
's catalog to date, pushing the "Hollaback Girl" cheerleader energy to the brink. "Hot & Sexy" keeps that confrontational, do-what-I-wanna spirit alive, injecting some ballroom and trap into the mix. R&B sensuality and a house heartbeat carry the fantasy-baiting "Girl's Girl," while the pulsing club anthem "Crush" and the funky, Latin-tinged "Eurosummer" offer hedonistic, youthful release. Aside from the beat-forward dancefloor fodder,
takes the time to explore her own growth as a 27-year-old on the carefree yet introspective "Saturn's Return," which captures her musings on life as the glimmering production swells around her soaring, angelic vocals. Stripping away the party-loving attitude, that matured perspective returns as she reveals her aspirations on the heartfelt "The Ambition," which analyzes her experiences with the highs and lows of fame. This refreshing honesty and reflective insight might not be as exciting as the immediate pop bangers, but they help elevate
to something more refined and graceful. Short and sweet, this catalog highlight benefits from its length, offering just enough of what
does best to have listeners craving more of this endless bliss. ~ Neil Z. Yeung