Kygo - Cloud Nine, review: 'superficially pretty'

Just in time for summer, Norwegian DJ/pianist Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll arrives with a debut album that should secure his status as the mild-mannered godfather of the sound dubbed “tropical house”.

The style, characterised by gentle blips, strong pop melodies and what can sound suspiciously like pan pipes, is an updating of the once beloved chillout genre that has already earned No 1 hits for Justin Bieber and Mike Posner.

Kygo tracks such as Happy Birthday, voiced by John Legend, or Oasis, featuring Foxes, seem designed to soundtrack a wellness blogger’s Instagrammed breakfast: superficially pretty with little of real substance. His song Raging, with Kodaline, is anything but.

The slow beat switches into something more interesting on I’m in Love, but it’s not enough to make this anything other than the wallpaper of the moment.

(Epic)