No one describes absence quite like Robyn. Heartbreak is an infinite resource for any genre of music, but Robyn's ability to create weightless, shimmering pop about loss and separation feels as though she's creating something entirely new. She turns grief into energy; it becomes fuel to move one across a dancefloor, towards a brighter future.
Honey, Robyn's first album in eight years, journeys from separation to stability across its nine enigmatic tracks. Opener Missing You features a glittery synth that adds grandeur to Robyn's heartbreak: "There's this empty space you left behind/Now you're not here with me." But by the final track Ever Again, a warm, funky disco tune, she's strengthening her armour to face future trials: "Never gonna be brokenhearted/Ever again."
Most songs are between four and five minutes, treading unusual structures that break away from classic pop arrangements. Baby Forgive Me is centred almost entirely on the refrain of its title; the repetition increases the longing in Robyn's voice as the track rolls around loops of soft synths and light drums. Beach2k20 is the record's kookiest song – with iPhone sound effects sampled throughout, Robyn walks us through making a plan with her friends over a shuffling samba-inspired beat: "So you wanna go out?/To this cute place on the beach/They do really nice food."
Honey's moments of joy are among its most sublime. The title track is a hyper-sexual trance, its pulsating beat expressing an irresistible sensuality. The following track Between the Lines features one of Honey's sweetest lyrics ("Every time/You hit my phone up/It makes my heart jump"). It's a funky exploration of how one sentiment can be spun in any number of ways over a club song, to hypnotic effect.
Honey is a welcome return from Robyn. It's fun, sexy and danceable – but underscored by its devotion to treating each emotion with respect, and honouring the painful journeys love can take us on.
