Selvutsletter is the second studio album by Norwegian art pop duo Lost Girls, musicians Jenny Hval and Håvard Volden. It was released on 20 October 2023 through Smalltown Supersound.

Selvutsletter
Studio album by
Released20 October 2023 (2023-10-20)
Length40:36
LabelSmalltown Supersound
Producer
  • Lost Girls
  • Kyrre Laastad
Lost Girls chronology
Menneskekollektivet
(2021)
Selvutsletter
(2023)
Singles from Selvutsletter
  1. "Ruins"
    Released: 17 July 2023
  2. "With the Other Hand"
    Released: 21 August 2023

Background

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Hval and Volden released the lead single "Ruins" on 17 July 2023, a song about the "practice of discovery" and the feeling of approaching "something ancient and magical".[1] The duo announced their second collaborative project on 21 August, accompanied by the release of "With the Other Hand". The track was inspired by Leonard Cohen and follows around "someone's mysterious journey".[2]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic79/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
The Guardian     [5]
Pitchfork7.8/10[6]
Slant Magazine     [7]

Selvutsletter received a score of 79 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on seven critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[3] Daniel Bromfield at Pitchfork noticed shrunk track lengths compared to its predecessor Menneskekollektivet but within the "relatively brief runtimes" Bromfield found a "wealth of creativity", being thrilled to follow Hval down every "rabbit hole".[6] Exclaim!'s Kaelen Bell saw Selvutsletter as an extension of Hval's subconscious and described the music with Volden as a "calling card all its own".[8]

Charles Lyons-Burt of Slant Magazine did not see Selvutsletter as catching "the same wonders" as their debut but acknowledges the duo "admirably" trying "some news things", including the scratch of a "pleasure" itch "you didn't know you needed", while "neglecting the one you thought you did".[7] Likewise, Damien Morris at The Guardian thought that Lost Girls avoid a confrontation that the "seemingly semi-improvised music requires" and highlights the "more conventional songs" of the record.[5]

Track listing

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Selvutsletter track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Timed Intervals"4:28
2."With the Other Hand"3:11
3."Ruins"4:55
4."Re-entering the City"4:12
5."World on Fire"3:19
6."Jeg Slutter Meg Selv"6:52
7."June 1996"4:06
8."Seawhite"9:33
Total length:40:36

References

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  1. ^ Helfand, Raphael (17 July 2023). "Jenny Hval's Lost Girls are in rock mode on new song "Ruins"". The Fader. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  2. ^ Redfern, Mark (21 August 2023). "Lost Girls (Jenny Hval & Håvard Volden) Announce New Album, Share New Song "With the Other Hand"". Under the Radar. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Selvutsletter by Lost Girls Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  4. ^ Phares, Heather. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b Morris, Damien (22 October 2023). "Lost Girls: Selvutsletter review – flashes of brilliance from Jenny Hval". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b Bromfield, Daniel (23 October 2023). "Lost Girls: Selvutsletter". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b Lyons-Burt, Charles (16 October 2023). "Lost Girls Selvutsletter Review: Navigating the Discomfort Zone". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  8. ^ Bell, Kaelen (23 October 2023). "Lost Girls Find Pop Melodies in the Mire on Selvutsletter". Exclaim!. Retrieved 24 October 2023.