Review - Icona Pop - Iconic EP

Did you LOVE Icona Pop’s summer smash “I Love It (ft. Charli XCX)”? Of course you did. Everyone did. Especially if you’re a 90’s bitch (you’ll get that if you know the song).

Well, the pop duo have released their new EP ‘Iconic’, and fuck is it a slammer. The EP starts right away with “I Love It” and then continues with “Ready For The Weekend”, which is even harder. If you’re thinking Calvin Harris (who had a single of the same name), you’re wrong; this is much, MUCH more electro. Yes, more electro than Calvin.

While I really love the hard electro moments, I am happy to hear that they changed things up on the album. After “Ready For The Weekend” things get a bit lighter. By “a bit lighter” I don’t mean they are picking up the acoustic guitars. “Good For You” is just more pop than anything. “Manners” follows, and it is actually the same song that they did with hip-hop duo Chiddy Bang. Chiddy just used them for the chours/hook, but on this version (with a title of “Manners”, shortened from “Mind Your Manners” to make things a bit less complicated), the girls give us their take on what it would sound like as a full Icona Pop track.

“Sun Goes Down” brings things back to a dark dance place, starting out with a deep, almost menacing vocal. I’m not positive who it is – the track features St. Lucia and The Knocks – but I love it. Throwing in vocal effects like that can be hit or miss, but they make it work.

The whole EP is a really good showing, and I’m ready for an album. This is their second EP, so let’s get it going! At times the vocals remind me of T.A.T.U (remember them?), only updated. The sound of this collection is very modern and “now”, and they keep their originality. Two pop girls with style and the ability to make an endless stream of songs that make me dance? I’m not mad.

Listen to: everything, especially “I Love It (ft. Charli XCX)” and “Ready For The Weekend”

Buy