Sophomore slump? I don't know her. Following up 2017's self-titled debut, Future Nostalgia is the second album by the British singer, songwriter, and model: Dua Lipa. A short and sweet 11-track dance party (compared to the 17 on the self-titled deluxe edition), this project engages with sounds ranging from joyful 70's disco to a glossy Olivia Newton-John tribute, blending this range of references into an album with a remarkably fresh and modern feel - hence the name. Dua Lipa you have done it again, constantly raising the bar for us all, and doing it flawlessly.
This album's getting a full review, because - spoiler alert - it fucking slaps.
Future Nostalgia
Kicking off the tracklist with this song makes it more than just a banger, it's a thesis statement for the entire album (think Grimes' New Gods but more subtle). Released as a promotional single at the back end of 2019, this is the track that really got me excited for this album, and I remember playing it relentlessly. Continuing the disco influences prevalent in the first single, Don't Start Now, the synths and drum beat combine to make a song you can't help but dance to - this will be a running theme.
The lyrics here showcase a woman who knows she's the shit, and isn't afraid to flaunt that; and while the chorus certainly gets that message across ("I know you ain't used to a female alpha"), the one that sticks out to me will always be from the first verse, where Dua finds a tongue-in-cheek way to shoutout the track's producer, Jeff Bhasker, giving a wonderfully fun and carefree feel which only serves to improve what's already fantastic.
Don't Start Now
God, where to start with this one. (Sorry.)
The album's lead single, released way back in November last year, keeps with the unwritten rule of having your album's second track be a more upbeat and danceable track. Dua's confidence from the title track remains strong here, as she sings directly to an ex-lover (or two), encouraging them to move on like she has, and do so quickly. This track is another disco-infused pop smash, and the unsung hero here is definitely the melody of the bass guitar which cannot be described as anything other than utterly groovy.
In many ways this track serves as the antithesis of Dua's first true hit single - New Rules, as instead of disciplining herself against going back, all that energy is now directed outwards, she doesn't need it anymore.
As the lead single, the song has received many promo performances, most notably at the 2019 VMA's, where Dua showed up and showed out with a dramatically improved stage presence and dance ability, having chosen not to respond to any of the online ridicule she has been subject to in the past, instead proving them wrong without saying a word.
Cool
The first track on the tracklist not to have been released as a single of any kind, Cool had a certain familiar feel that I couldn't figure out, until I checked instagram while writing this and saw Tove Lo post about how proud she is to have made her small contribution with this track. With that in mind, the track clicks into place, and the slightly sexy vibe of the song makes a lot more sense. A slightly slower jam compared to the first two songs, here we see Dua letting go a little bit, admitting to the effects the guy she sings about is having on her. A nice track to relax to, I can see this making it onto my summer playlists for sure, and not just because it says the word summer in the chorus.
Physical
The album's second official single, Physical is a certified bop. Accompanied by one of the best music videos so far in 2020, this darker dance track is a showcase of why Dua was able to break out as a star (and not just because I love the way she says 'diamond rich'). Obviously a tribute to the iconic track of the same name by Olivia Newton-John, it definitely does its namesake proud, and there are very few songs that I have seen receive such a positive reaction when played in a gay club. Let's get physical, indeed.
Levitating
The energy continues with Levitating, in my opinion the most successful disco track on the album. That 'yeah yeah yeah' in the chorus? Chef's kiss. A song about falling in love on the dance floor, Dua's definitely having fun here, as demonstrated by the playful lyrics in the bridge ('feeling so electric, dance my arse off'), and the vibrant instrumental that makes you want to throw on some flares and pretend to be an extra in Austin Powers. Coming towards the middle of the album where some lesser artists might throw in some filler, Miss Lipa shows no signs of letting up.
Pretty Please
When I can still listen to and enjoy what is, admittedly, my least favourite track on an album, you know it slaps. Call me tasteless, but the syncopated hand-claps and more laidback bassline just don't do it for me the same way Physical does. I appreciate that after a song like Levitating, some might need a breather, but I've always been a sucker for an upbeat dance track. Having said that, I can still see that this track does 'lowkey' very well, or at least as lowkey as you can get with an instrumental like this. I can see it growing on me some more, but right now it's the only track on the album I'd maybe consider skipping.
Hallucinate
The upbeat dancing is back with a vengeance, and the gays are Eating. It. Up. A song that creates a visual in your head just by listening to it is always enjoyable, and I can't see anything but a roller rink and flashing neon lights with this one. A bit more '90s inspired than anything else, that might be the reason this track stands out slightly above some of the other uptempo tracks, and I can definitely see it going big. Did someone say masterpiece?
Love Again
That sample you recognise in the instrumental is Your Woman by White Town. You're welcome. Dua's self-proclaimed favourite track on the album, it shows us the beginning of a new romance on the dance floor, the light at the end of the heartbreak tunnel. An analysis of just the lyrics could seem quite depressing here ('I can't believe there's something left in my chest anymore'), but that old-school sample really lightens up the mood, making for a hopeful, if a little long, listening experience.
Break My Heart
God this woman just cannot make a bad song. My personal favourite of this album's singles, and a definite contender for favourite on the album as a whole, this track shows Dua doing what Dua does best, the act she describes as "dance-crying". Where Love Again tackled the after-effects of heartbreak, Break My Heart serves up the beginning on a shiny disco platter.
The song really comes into its own with the staccato beginning of the chorus, blossoming into a full-fledged banger, with flourishes of strings perfectly complimenting the bass guitar and hand claps that give the song its disco flair.
Break My Heart is also notable for having another fantastic music video. Dua really did not come to play, with choreography, looks, and several fantastic sets, all intercut by some weird and wonderful camerawork. 10/10. Amazing. This track makes heartbreak sound so good I'm now taking applications for someone to royally fuck me over.
Good in Bed
I am here to defend this song to my death. Maligned online for I have no clue what reason, this cute little sex positive song tells the story of a relationship doomed to fail, as they're only good together when they're in bed. With an earworm chorus you'll have stuck in your head for weeks, and lyrics dedicated to "all that good pipe", I firmly believe this song deserves better, and perhaps only suffers from such intense focus due to its position as the penultimate track.
Boys Will Be Boys
The second I heard the plucking of strings I fell in love with this track. Tonally, the track benefits from the more instrumental production, as Dua takes the world to task about the the problematic nature of the saying it is named for. Having spent most of the album focusing on fun and dancing your problems away, some might find this sudden shift into socio-political engagement slightly jarring, but the track on its own stands as a shining example of how to address such topics without being perceived as overly preachy or virtue-signalling. Boys will be boys, but girls will be women.
I won't use my own words to try and sum this album up in one sentence because NME already did it for me. This is an album "to dance away your anxieties to... if only for a little while."