Few artists these days continue to shapeshift as much as FKA twigs. Moving somewhere between art pop, electronic and dance, her sound carries a unique traction hard to pinpoint across the albums.
Her 2019 release, ‘MAGDALENE’, remains one of the most highly regarded pieces of heartbreak art among fans. It was applauded for such raw lyricism and decorative production, earning a 9.4 rating from Pitchfork Magazine.
So, it comes as a wonderful surprise to be blessed by not one, but two album releases from twigs this year, at opposite ends. The most recent, titled ‘EUSEXUA Afterglow’, serves as a musical sequel to her January output.
Both are said to be the creative culmination of months delving into Prague’s underground rave scene, while filming Rupert Sanders’ 2024 remake of The Crow. Time spent here allowed twigs to adopt a more industrial tone to her discography. While some may dislike the shift away from the choral sounds of ‘MAGDALENE’, this simply feels like the natural progression. Listeners have to adjust.
Interestingly, 'EUSEXUA Afterglow’ has been described by its artist as “a broken mirror at 5am”, a sort of musical comedown over 11 songs. This can be felt across the album as a wider concept, but from a few tracks, the afterparty appears to be just as lively. Opener, ‘Love Crimes’, is a rip-roaring techno delight to back this. What begins as quiet, trippy whispers soon kicks into a high-energy drum machine, layered with robotic calls of “You don’t understand / I had to let you go”. We as listeners feel thrown straight into the mix, a combination of heavy instrumentals and twigs’ own high-pitched vocals.
In terms of lyrical themes, it's difficult to pick out upon the first listen. Many of the tracks are interspersed with such glitchy effects that words aren’t clear, but another go and you’ll find contemplative musings on sexuality and identity. The kind of brisk self-criticism in the club mirrors or the taxi home.
From her discography as a whole, twigs is clearly an artist enamoured with how to be perceived by others, something clear in the midway track ‘Predictable Girl’. Here, she berates herself in the chorus, cursing how “you followed your heart then got lost in your head”. It’s sharp and cruel. Other songs like ‘HARD’ and ‘Touch A Girl’ follow passionate hook-ups and relationship doubts. There’s a great spectrum of thought at play here.
twigs has previously experimented with artist features, but only one is used on ‘EUSEXUA Afterglow’, in the form of Pink Pantheress. The current R&B dance-pop sensation comes in for a hushed accompaniment on the third song, ‘Wild And Alone’, which follows the difficulties of loving someone famous. Here, the whole morning-after vibe takes control, with floating glacial synths and a gentle drum beat, acting as a palate-cleanser for the rest.
Production-wise, it’s a feast for the ears. There’s a delightful mix of aural textures throughout, strikingly unique in their layers. A few tracks fade smoothly into each other, like the transition between the psychedelic ‘Slushy’ and ‘Wild And Alone’, making for a stronger listening experience. This can be felt to the highest extent in the album’s standout track ‘Sushi’, also the longest. During those five minutes, a thumping bass drives a helping of vocoder, before breaking down into a ballroom sample and callback to her 2015 deep cut ‘Glass & Patron’. It’s sure to delight the clubs.
Special mention must be given to the airy, trip-hop infused ‘Cheap Hotel’ too, the album’s first single release. When given the wider context of the ‘EUSEXUA’ nightlife experience, it slots in perfectly to her discography and throws genius tempo twists our way, while still quietening things down.
Overall, ‘Afterglow’ functions as the ideal sequel to its predecessor, showing how to simultaneously carry and alter a theme across your creative output. twigs has an unshakeable vision and the talent to match. Her ethereal vocals and deep, futuristic rhythms continue to thrive under selected production teams, along with a strong visual image for this era.
In years to come, it’ll be interesting to see what she develops next after such a definitive body of work. This time round, it’s an album pitch-perfect for alien nightlife across the galaxy, in the best way possible.
Sofia Neal
Image: 'EUSEXUA Afterglow' Official Album Cover
If you enjoyed reading this article, please consider buying us a coffee. The money from this pot goes towards the ever-increasing yearly costs of running and hosting the site, and our "Writer Of The Month" cash prize.