Lorde being compared to Lana del Ray is a pretty obvious step - they sound similar, and sing about similar things, the main difference being just how young Lorde is. But this album would be good no matter how old Ella is, and making too big a deal of her age makes the praise sound verging-on-patronising. It's ennui-ridden synth-pop, and credit has to go to Joel Little for the musical production that I think really elevates the album from bored-teen to something worth listening to on repeat for a couple of days.
It almost feels like a reaction to the 'YOLO' spirit of a lot of music - instead of glorifying party culture, Lorde declares that she doesn't want to put her hands up in the air. If I'm honest, I can't help that imagine/hope that some of the songs will find greater resonance with people older than Lorde, if just because I doubt she has much experience of the lifestyle she seems to be critiquing.
It's the beats that really get you on this record - it's as though the xx produced a del Ray record. It's not a flawless offering; a lot of the tracks blend into each with a samey-ness that could quickly get old. The vocals are hypnotic, and although there might not be anything especially new about any of the themes or tricks she uses, that doesn't mean she should be written off. In Lorde there is something that it is increasingly difficult to find - a 'pop' star who doesn't seem so overly manufactured and bubble-gum pink that she becomes someone we love to hate, just someone we love.
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