JJ Nº 3

This Swedish duo came out of nowhere with their stunning debut, No. 2, released to wide acclaim in 2009.  Elin Kastlander’s voice bears a startling resemblance to the cool, dusky tones of Tracey Thorn, and with her partner Joakim Benon, JJ creates the same kind of spare, quiet pop that Thorn (and her Marine Girls) birthed a few decades ago. Benon programs the beats and synth’d instrumental parts with a divine sense of melody and composition: “And Now” sways gently with loping congas and glistening acoustic guitar, and the frisky “You Know” bubbles with handclaps and tambourines, Kastlander’s voice shyly riding a subtle hook. It’s reluctant pop, as is the breezy — but not lighthearted — “Let Go,” a beautiful, Enya-flavored tune that might be about suntans and death. We’re not sure where their somber, piano-driven take on the Game/Lil Wayne’s “My Life” fits in here, but it’s an interesting moment that feels oddly unfinished. A few tracks, like “Light” and “No Escapin’ This,” feel a bit formless, and are hard to grasp. But JJ still promises enchanting delights ahead, and this will more than tide us over to No. 4.