Fancy That

PinkPantheress broke through to the mainstream when "Boys a Liar" and its remix featuring Ice Spice blew up worldwide, and she followed it with Heaven Knows, an ambitious and often brutally introspective debut album that revealed a greater depth to her art. Fancy That, her second mixtape, returns to the brief track lengths and 90s/00s samples of 2021s To Hell with It, and its intended as something fun and frivolous, as well as a celebration of British culture. Most of the songs are rooted in U.K. garage and funky house, with several of them sampling Basement Jaxx, including the particularly Ibiza-friendly "Girl Like Me." Opener "Illegal" attaches brisk two-step beats to ecstatic Underworld synths, with Pink sounding excited but nervous as shes caught in a situation that doesnt seem safe. "Tonight" and "Stars" set flirty yet anxious lyrics to smooth beats and bubbly basslines. The heart-racing "Noises" (which references Nardo Wicks viral hit "Who Want Smoke?") is the mixtapes only drumnbass cut, while "Nice to Know You" has a lonely, Burial-esque vibe, as well as a diva chorus sampled from a Sugababes song. "Stateside" (co-produced by indie sleaze revivalist the Dare) has a more muscular, alternative dance-style rhythm, while the lyrics update the intercontinental love affair theme of Estelles "American Boy." "Romeo," another Basement Jaxx lift, is true to that duos production style, with fast beats, lush disco strings, and eventually gang vocals messily singing along to the chorus. Fancy That is some of Pinks most carefree work, but its still highly emotional, and its songs are as well-crafted, catchy, and creative as anything else shes done. ~ Paul Simpson

2021年に世に出てから作品を追うごとにポップスターへの階段を昇り続ける彼女が2作目のミックステープをドロップ。アンダーワールド"Dark Train"をガラージ調に仕立てた"Illegal"やベースメント・ジャックス"Romeo"のフレーズを引っ張り出した"Girl Like Me"など、ミックステープともなるとネタ使いもさらに大胆で、勢いそのままに展開していく様子が現在の好調ぶりを表している。ミッドテンポのトラックをスウィートなヴォーカルで乗りこなした"Stateside"では表現者としての成長も窺え、全9トラックを20分で終えてしまう尺も手伝って、早くも次作への期待が膨らむ。
bounce (C)野村有正