FKA twigs has that uncanny ability to take any genre she chooses and command it to do her will, giving her inimitable stamp on everything she touches. This can likewise be said for her latest release, the single, ‘Cellophane’, an homage vocally to the greats of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, while the accompanying music video is a veritable feast of death defying acrobatics.
‘Cellophane’ is FKA twigs’ first solo release since her immaculate 2016 track, ‘Good to Love’, and while it’s been a long wait for her fans, it’s definitely worth it. The trained dancer gives us her all whilst wearing death defyingly high heels, grasping the pole, bending and twisting, rising up and falling down, turning, turning, legs and arms stretched wide, making us regret not paying more attention in gymnastics class. Vulnerable, yet commanding, her vocals take the lead against the merest touch of piano, and the barest whisper of percussion. At the halfway point, as she spins towards the top of the pole, she is confronted by what appears to be a mechanical insect, whose carapace opens to reveal a mask not too dissimilar to Ms twigs. Intoning of a love in peril, her voice soaring higher than she is on the pole, showing more than ever what she’s capable of. Co-written and produced by twigs, Jeff Kleinman, and Michael Uzowuru – who’ve written for the likes of Frank Ocean, and Vic Staples – it has both urgency and a hookiness which will worm through your brain for hours.
The single is the title track for twigs’ upcoming album, ‘Cellophane’, her second release for UK independent label, Young Turks, an offshoot of Beggars Group and partner of XL Recordings.
Stream and download ‘Cellophane’ here. Find FKA twigs online on Twitter, Instagram, and her official website.
