Midnight Sun

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. Larssons 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. Theres 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 Larssons 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 "Girls Girl," while the pulsing club anthem "Crush" and the funky, Latin-tinged "Eurosummer" offer hedonistic, youthful release. Aside from the beat-forward dancefloor fodder, Larsson takes the time to explore her own growth as a 27-year-old on the carefree yet introspective "Saturns 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 Midnight Sun to something more refined and graceful. Short and sweet, this catalog highlight benefits from its length, offering just enough of what Larsson does best to have listeners craving more of this endless bliss. ~ Neil Z. Yeung