PinkPantheress - Fancy That
PinkPantheress's second mixtape is an intoxicating blend of irresistible hooks, neon-soaked anthems, and uninhibited revelry. She has never sounded this free.
"My name is Pink and I'm really glad to meet you" — thus begins Fancy That, Pinkpantheress’ sophomore mixtape. Longtime listeners and TikTok regulars might assume she needs no introduction; after all, tracks like Pain and Boy’s a Liar have dominated viral videos and gained millions of streams. But something about PinkPantheress feels changed — she is no longer the shy, enigmatic figure of her early works. On Fancy That, she exudes confidence and precision like never before.
From the very first track, “Illegal”, she flirts openly with her audience — yet it never teeters into corny territory. Instead, it's playfully self-aware, the perfect prelude to a night of indulgence. Gone is the timid persona; the party is in full swing. And PinkPantheress knows it, evidenced by her irresistibly catchy choruses and shimmering production throughout the album. Fancy That doesn’t just sound good—it sounds effortlessly cool.
Much of this allure stems from her masterful use of sampling. PinkPantheress has always had an uncanny knack for uncovering overlooked gems and repurposing them into radiant sonic artifacts. Here, she elevates this skill to an art form, seamlessly weaving fragments from Underworld, Basement Jaxx, William Orbit, and even Panic! At the Disco. Some of these interpolations are so deftly integrated that they feel indistinguishable from her own arrangements.
Take the dazzling “Tonight”, which samples “Do You Know What I'm Seeing?” by Panic! At the Disco. Lyrically, it might be her the most risky song to date, yet its coquettish delivery, pulsating dance-pop instrumentation, and ethereal vocals transform it into an undeniable club anthem. Grab a drink, sprint to the dancefloor—this is pure, unfiltered euphoria. If PinkPantheress is done holding back, why should we?
It’s an amusing paradox: she might be known most for introspective, bedroom-pop aesthetics, but Fancy That is her most dance-driven work yet. Sure, echoes of past releases linger — take “Noises”, with its skittering breakbeats and atmospheric ad-libs, feels reminiscent of to hell with it — but she isn’t afraid to push sonic boundaries.
And like any great party, there’s drama. “Stars”, built upon Just Jack’s “Starz In Their Eyes”, plays like an argument unfolding over cigarettes on a balcony — melancholic yet raw in its emotional weight. PinkPantheress crafts a dialogue between herself and the sampled vocals: "Why’d you wanna go and put stars in your eyes? / It’s the same old story, but they just didn’t realize". Instant infatuations on the dancefloor fade in a heartbeat; a week later, they’re nothing but forgotten moments.
A similar sentiment lingers on “Nice to Know You”. Despite its welcoming title, it’s one of the mixtape’s most gut-wrenching moments. Under shadowy UK garage production, reminiscent of Burial, PinkPantheress dissolves into heartache mid-rave. It’s the kind of track that played on the radio in the 2000s — one you stumbled upon but struggled to find again.
Then comes “Stateside”, arguably her best song yet. With production by The Dare, PinkPantheress crafts a whirlwind transatlantic love story between the UK and the US. It’s fast, hypnotic, the sonic equivalent of a fever dream.
Ultimately, this mixtape is a late-night escapade — messy encounters, laughter, and unfiltered chaos. Even with its concise runtime, its melodies linger long after the night ends. Some listeners lament the lack of carefree, unselfconscious pop in today’s landscape. If that’s the case, they might find solace in Fancy That.
8.5/10
