For the curious and ultra-trendy, Charli xcx's neon, vomit green 鈥� was more than an album; it inspired the cultural moment of While internet-pop 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.
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.
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.
Kiana Doyle, The Associated Press
