These psychedelic post-club reflections are as creative and inspired as the work that came before them.
In a discussion with Rolling Stone, FKA twigs reflected on the wave of inspiration and creativity that typically follows the release of an album. It’s a surge, a rhythm; a realization that a creation is not confined, but infinite. This flow state defined twigs’ groundbreaking club music piece ‘EUSEXUA’ and is echoed in the companion album ‘EUSEXUA Afterglow.’
While its predecessor delved into the full range of dancefloor despair and bliss, ‘Afterglow’ focuses on the hours following the rave, when one leaves a shared experience and a disembodied feeling persists. Apart from the intense, hard-hitting opening track ‘Love Crimes’, which serves as the bridge between the two albums, ‘Afterglow’ primarily presents a hazy concoction of intricate beats, manipulated vocals that appear and disappear swiftly, and after-hours synth elements that shift and evolve.
‘Afterglow’ captures twigs’ fragmented descent into reality with an otherworldly quality, as if she’s observing the post-club chaos from afar. Detached and inscrutable, half-remembered instances bubble up; feelings of euphoria, intoxication, hunger, yearning, and isolation. It’s within this whirlwind that ‘Afterglow’ truly shines.
‘Slushy,’ featuring thudding percussion that builds to a jungle peak, along with the trip-hop grandeur of ‘Cheap Hotel,’ finds solace in food, intimacy, and the company of strangers. The ballroom extravagance of ‘Sushi’—a nostalgic nod to the 2015 track ‘Glass & Patron’—represents the jubilant, pivotal moment on the street with your chosen tribe. This contrasts with the Eastern-influenced rhythms of ‘Lost All My Friends,’ which conveys a deep sadness through twigs’ subdued, haunting verses, as her connection to time and place fades in the mist.
It’s commendable that ‘Afterglow’ feels like a continuation, a parallel exploration, and an extension of her interpretation of the rave scene. Although it may not have the pop-oriented immediacy of ‘EUSEXUA’ tracks such as ‘Perfect Stranger’ and ‘Room of Fools,’ it offers an abundance of transcendent dance music, skillfully enhanced with a sensual, innovative, high-definition style that continually points towards the future.
8/10
Words: Shahzaib Hussain
—
Join us on WeAre8, as we delve into global cultural events. Follow Clash Magazine HERE as we joyfully navigate between clubs, concerts, interviews, and photo shoots. Gain backstage insights and a glimpse into our world as the excitement unfolds.
Subscribe to the Clash mailing list for the latest in music, fashion, and film news.
Yorkshire power players who are leaving their imprint.
Sharon Katta has introduced his newest project, ‘Death said, Breathe’. This powerful depiction of grief and recovery comes from the London-based artist and songwriter.
It’s a tribute to travel madness and sober elevation, infused with a ’00s sensibility.
At only 21, Sekou emerges as one of the most captivating new talents in contemporary, homegrown RnB and soul. He is an artist whose creations express the depth of lived experience.
James Laurent has released his new single ‘Dangerous Love’. Capturing the intense thrill of infatuation, the rising artist from Wisconsin combines elements to create an
The band has also released its impactful lead single, ‘Magazine’.
In a Rolling Stone interview, FKA twigs reflected on the wave of inspiration and creativity that comes after releasing an album. It's a rush, a rhythm; an