Music Review: PinkPantheress’ club pop mixtape ‘Fancy That’ is a lighthearted level up
For the curious and ultra-trendy, Charli xcx’s neon, vomit green party banger 鈥淏RAT 鈥 was more than an album; it inspired the cultural moment of 鈥淏RAT summer.鈥 While internet-pop sensation PinkPantheress’ style is quite different, it seems her sophomore mixtape is coming out just in time for a 鈥淔ancy That鈥 season of her own.
For the curious and ultra-trendy, Charli xcx’s neon, vomit green party banger 鈥淏RAT 鈥 was more than an album; it inspired the cultural moment of 鈥淏RAT summer.鈥 While internet-pop sensation PinkPantheress’ style is quite different, it seems her sophomore mixtape is coming out just in time for a 鈥淔ancy That鈥 season of her own.
Gen Z immediately flocked to 24-year-old British singer-songwriter PinkPantheress’ 鈥淔ancy That鈥 singles on TikTok, the platform on which she’s come up significantly in the last few years, with earlier hits like the U.K. garage 鈥淏reak it Off鈥 and featuring New York
A producer first and foremost, PinkPantheress launched with those viral songs 鈥 her sweet soprano carrying addictive choruses that resonate with the very online.
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Across 鈥淔ancy That,鈥 with grounded but baby-soft vocals, PinkPantheress’ signature sound is reminiscent of ‘90s British electronic music as pulsing club beats layer over dreamy synths, melding U.K. garage with bedroom hyperpop.
The mixtape is a leveling up for a young artist indulging in the flirty fun of liking someone whom you shouldn’t. That’s clear from the strong opener 鈥淚llegal,鈥 with its bold synths and bolder lyrics.
鈥淢y name is Pink and I鈥檓 really glad to meet you / You鈥檙e recommended to me by some people / Hey, ouuuuu, is this illegal?鈥 she sings.
Despite the throes of forbidden, complicated or even unrequited love, there’s a lightheartedness to her new tracks, and listeners won’t find a single sappy ballad across the album.
It’s an on-and-off romance, as she puts her foot down in next track, the fun and layered 鈥淕irl Like Me.鈥 鈥淚’m not a fan of the way we’re moving,鈥 she sings. 鈥淣o explanation for why we do this.鈥
She explores themes of infatuation and obsession in energetic album highlights 鈥淭onight鈥 and 鈥淪tateside,鈥 pining after famous musicians and American boys. Both feature catchy and bouncy production, a simple choice but oh so danceable.
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鈥淣ever met a British girl, you say? No one treats me this way / Are all boys out here the same?鈥 she teases in the latter.
The final dance track 鈥淩omeo鈥 is a whirlwind of violins, evoking the feeling of butterflies in the stomach or racing pulses.
Only nine songs long, 鈥淔ancy That鈥 is fun, uncomplicated and anything but overdone. It’s a successful step forward for the rising artist.
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