Album Review: Robyn - Honey

Teardrops on the dancefloor ought to remind you of Robyn. The undisputed queen of breakup electro-pop left us to dance on our own for many years. Honey comes to us drenched in tears and wrapped in heartache. It was the passing of her producer Christian Falk and breakup with long-term partner Max Vitali that put Robyn in a dark and difficult place. Depression, anxiety and therapy were inevitable but when Robyn entered the confessional and started to write about what she was living through, Honey was born.

The lead single Missing U wears its heart on its sleeve as Robyn revels in yearning for her ex to a solid disco house beat. It is often said that physical exercise can help in the management of anxiety and depression and in this respect, Robyn’s beats across this album represent a solid workout. It gives new meaning to the idea of dancing yourself clean. Even at her darkest, there is the most joyous, deliriously euphoric vibe about this album. The retro-disco charmer Because It’s In The Music offers a virtual good time, escaping grim reality by reliving all the wonderful memories linked to so many of our favourite songs.

The album version of the title track oozes more smoothly than the pumped-up version previously featured on the TV show Girls. Once flexing blonde mainstream ambitions, Robyn’s deeply personal and idiosyncratic approach to pop conventions produces a convincingly authentic album overflowing with emotion and irresistible beats that will light up dancefloors around the world.