Label: RCA
Released: 28th January 2022
Following recent struggles with burnout after a long tour, as well as battling anxiety and recovery from a serious vocal injury, Danish superstar MØ’s third record is, perhaps unsurprisingly, a more subdued dive into her world-conquering brand of scandipop. With an album title taken from a carnival trick, as well as a nod to her struggle with anxiety, it’s another pop record that follows the recent trend of popping the bangers (mostly) on the shelf in favour of a more downbeat vibe – but happily, one that bounces back fully in a second half full of elation.
With all its talk of valleys of regret, heartaches and mistakes, the early parts of ‘Motordrome’ carries all the elements of someone finding their way out of the darkness. But there’s any early sign that all isn’t lost with the thumping classic club beat of ‘Live To Survive’, a track that by its end should come with its own glitter ball. With everything that’s gone on over the last couple of years, both personally and globally, it’s perhaps no surprise that everything isn’t shiny in MØ’s world – but the mood throughout is one of battling and overcoming rather wallowing.
If ‘Cool To Cry’ dances giddily along the tightrope between introspection and sadness, and the LDR-tinged ‘Youth Is Lost’ hints at some dark days, then the second half of the record is MØ’s path to the light and brighter territory. From the Hollywood moment of ‘Brad Pitt’, and the unalloyed elation of ‘New Moon’, we are on our way to the triumphant finale of ‘Punches’, where a new day finally dawns. A record that chooses to fight back and stares down anything getting in the way of her recovery. Perfect for these times, then.
