Album Review: "Fancy That" - PinkPantheress

Ashley Adams
2 minutes ago
5 min read

Cover Concept & Design: @svbih & @martinuhrecky

Creative Direction: @sianrowe_

“Fancy That is the sophomore and newest mixtape from dance-pop singer-songwriter and producer PinkPantheress.

T R A C K L I S T

Illegal
Girl Like Me
Tonight
Stars
Intermission
Noises
Nice to Know You
Stateside
Romeo

PinkPantheress has made waves in the music industry with her fun pop hits ever since the release of her debut single “Break It Off” in 2021. For the past four years, she’s been leading female producers in the 21st century, first revolutionized by Bj ö rk, and continued by the “Boy’s a liar” artist with her masterful and creative sampling. Born Victoria Beverly Walker, PinkPantheress is from England and grew up with a talent for all-things music, and taught herself how to produce and sample music only two years before her music career set off. She released her debut mixtape to hell with it in 2021, and her debut album Heaven knows in 2023.

Illegal

"Fancy That" wastes no time diving right into the first track, a burst of sound filling your ears the second you hit play. PinkPantheress introduces herself as you hear electrifying disco-esque synths. This continues as the drums join the song, fast-paced and containing different elements, the artist's signature sound. In the latter half of "Illegal" the production breaks down as she explains how she feels unsure about seeing someone. She likes hanging out with them, but only for certain amounts of time before she wants to be on her own again. Then again, she says the line "But tell me why my heartbeat is in a rush", followed by audio of her breathing to replicate panic or the sound of a heart beating.
Girl Like Me

The disco and 80's music vibes don't dissipate yet as "Illegal" flows into "Girl Like Me", a track with different synths that still sound like they came from the same era. This is also expressed through the piano notes in the production, and the beat is upbeat, as is the rest of the song. PinkPantheress is trying to keep a relationship alive, but is struggling to. Mentally weighing the pros and cons of her significant other, she is beginning to realize that they won't last, and that this person isn't an adequate partner. If she were to break up with them, which she most likely will, she knows they won't be too affected by it.
Tonight

The mixtape's viral leading single, "Tonight" pulls from songs of drum and bass, popularized in the United Kingdom, where PinkPantheress is from. Identifiable from the fast-paced wobbling synths and her rapping, that and the genre of pop are intertwined flawlessly, creating a unique and original sound. Unlike the last two tracks, the lyrics of this song implicate that she is attracted to someone and wants that person to initiate the relationship. She has liked them for longer than they have liked her, and can now recognize that feelings of romance are being reciprocated.
Stars

More wobbling synths can be heard on the next track, "Stars". The lyrics imply that PinkPantheress is associated with someone who is addicted to drugs. They seem to involve themselves with the wrong crowd, also selling drugs, and they might be secretly under surveillance by authorities, causing them to be paranoid, which is affecting their and PinkPantheress’s relationship. This is more explained in a “phone call” that occurs during the second part of the track. The song samples a male singer as part of the hook, possibly criticizing this person’s involvement with drugs. PinkPantheress has amazing storytelling skills and they are represented greatly in “Stars”, amidst sci-fi-esque synths and sound effects and a distinct bassline.
Intermission

A potential divide between the storylines in this mixtape, “Intermission” is aptly short, featuring production from the song it precedes, “Noises”. Distant sound clips of voices can be heard among the production, a very ethereal and transcendent combination of synths that then transition into an expeditious beat, but then changes once more into a slower tempo with funky guitar chords. This won’t be the last time that the faster beat is heard, however, as it makes a return shortly after the start of the next song.
Noises

Vibes of paranoia from “Stars” are brought back for the sixth track in the mixtape, except this time they become true. Briefing the events of a home invasion, the lyrics of this song connect to “Stars”, as the person selling drugs is the one that broke into PinkPantheress’s house and is demanding she pay them. The lyrical content concludes with her being robbed, and the person seemingly getting away. Alongside the production, strings can be heard, which have been a frequent addition to the other tracks as well. The sound effects in “Noises” are very unique to most pop music, including a synth that sounds akin to a doppler effect or an underwater sonar detector.
Nice to Know You

Poetry and spoken word are just some of the elements of “Nice to Know You” that make it one of the most distinctive tracks on Fancy That. The tempo is much slower than the other songs and is not about romance, but instead about the loss of a friendship. This could relate to what happened in “Noises”, with the robbery being symbolic for it, and it being the final straw that caused the friendship to end. Looking at it in a different light, this song might have a different meaning, which is the loss of friendship between PinkPantheress and the person who sells drugs. Obviously, having her home invaded by them would enact this. Fun fact: The title is similar to “Nice to meet you”, a track from Heaven knows.
Stateside

The penultimate track contains electronic/dance breakdowns and fun synths and melodies. Aligned with more disco synths, PinkPantheress sings about falling for an American, and notices he treats her differently than the men from the UK she has dated. Through metaphors, she describes that she has never fallen this hard for someone before, and is also surprised that she is finding this love with an American. Compared to the tracks earlier in this mixtape, it’s clear that she’s not been treated right or didn’t have interest in the men from the UK she was involved with, but now that she's in the U.S., things are different for her.
Romeo

The closing track is where the mixtape comes full circle and PinkPantheress finds her true love, but because she calls him “Romeo”, the love will not last. However, she is blinded by her attraction and therefore doesn’t know this yet. The production is hyper and carries the romantic vibe that the lyrics also have. Singing melodies switch quickly in different parts of the song. In a way, the powerfulness and intensity the track sonically exudes shows that this is the conclusion to a body of musical work. This is also the end to the storyline of the mixtape, one that was filled with hardships relating to finding the right person through people who she discovered were not.

My closing thoughts on Fancy That are that it is a fantastic mixtape and another artistic masterpiece from PinkPantheress. The first project I listened all the way through of her’s was Heaven knows, and it really feels as though she’s gotten even better at making music, and I didn’t even think that was possible considering she’s been releasing impeccable work throughout her whole career. When it comes to singing, writing, producing, and performing, her skills are unmatched. Her ability to sample music and make songs of her own with them still sound unique but also pay homage to the original music is incredibly impressive and a feat not many others have accomplished.

Written By Ashley Adams

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