Review: FKA Twigs "Perfectly"

FKA Twigs is still riding the wave of Eusexua with a new release that oozes the groove of summer. “Perfectly” came out on July 16th, and is a perfect sonic landscape to take in the sun we’ve enjoyed and the warmth that is still to come.

It seems that drum n’ bass has been inching its way into pop music, as heard in Zara Larsson’s newest single “Midnight Sun” and regularly in Pink Pantheress’ discography. Drum n’ bass is a genre characterized by a fast tempo, which is typically measured using beats per minute (bpm). Drum n’ bass usually resides in the range of 160 to 180 bpm, and leans into the hypnotizing percussive tool of syncopation. The key sounds to look out for are the rich, deep bass beat, which is a driving force of rhythm, and the contrasting higher pitch of the hi-hat, which provides the syncopated beat.

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FKA Twigs lays down a drum n’ bass beat that immediately gives her new song a tone rooted in the rich groove of dance music. Twigs is no stranger to dance music, especially the experimental melodies of electronica and trance, so “Perfectly” is a reinforcement of the distinct sound that she has spent the past 12 years crafting. Her iconic, wispy vocals echo out above the bewitching beat, and the beauty of Twigs’ voice still holds true. While her voice is delicate, it still has a strength that is unmatched.

You made it like I was hard to see / I smash my skull on normalcy / Another world and a stronger me / I think that I did it perfectly

Her strength rings out through her lyrics, which I would compare to poetry that begs to be examined. She creates and thrives in a world that’s all her own, sharing herself through melody.

The ethereal beats she often calls upon in her music proudly ring out in “Perfectly.” Twigs successfully puts us in a trance. The beats and her voice become one as they bounce around in our ears. The end of “Perfectly” ups the ante with a rich rave beat, rattling our bones. The deep bass locks us in completely, and we’re glued to the dance floor under the sweet spell of FKA Twigs.

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