From producing music in her dorm room to going on a North American tour, British singer-songwriter and record producer Victoria Beverley Walker, commonly known as PinkPantheress, released her second mixtape, “Fancy That,” this May. In 2023, Walker released her first official studio album, “Heaven Knows,” while her first released mixtape, “To Hell with It,” came out in 2021.
PinkPantheress’ music consists of electronic pop and alternative genres, showcasing a “Y2K” vibe through vibrant album covers, captivating music videos, and her unique fashion taste. “Fancy That” delivers a brief but groovy tracklist perfect for dancing alone in your bedroom.
PinkPantheress was one of the first artists I found during quarantine in 2021. Since then, her songs have remained in a number of my playlists. I’ve also been a listener since the release of “To Hell with It,” with “Fancy That” as my number one album of the year. For this mixtape, I will be reviewing based on my enjoyment of each song, how catchy the lyrics of each song are, and the structure and flow of the album itself.
Track 1: “Illegal”
When “Fancy That” was first released, the song “Illegal” topped the charts and even started a new Tiktok trend. Although it’s a bit overplayed in my opinion, it remains an enjoyable song to sing and dance to. “Illegal” samples the synth and bassline from Underworld’s 1994 track “Dark & Long (Dark Train)”. Combined with sampling, the song features some iconic lyrics that just make you feel confident in yourself.
Track 2: “Girl Like Me”
When listening to this mixtape for the first time, “Girl Like Me” was one that stood out to me the most. From start to finish, this song does not disappoint; it’s one of the tracks on this mixtape that I never skip. “Girl Like Me” also samples the song “Romeo” by Basement Jaxx. The song and the sample utilise the same lyric, “Let it all go,” one of the catchiest lines in the song. Everything in this song, ranging from Walker’s vocals to the fast-paced melody that brings this song to life, is incredible.
Track 3: “Tonight”
“Tonight” was a single before “Fancy That” was released, and I must say it is a little underwhelming compared to the last track. However, Walker’s soft vocals paired with the quickness of the beat within the track still make the song enjoyable. Most lyrics in this track are quite repetitive, but make the song more danceable. My favorite lyrics in this song aren’t even the main vocals but rather re the ad-libs Walker uses at the beginning of the song. These include Walker singing “Like what?” or “Come on / What?”. Layering these ad-libs makes the song sound sassier and more fun to sing.
Track 4: “Stars”
Compared to the other tracks on this mixtape, I believe that this song would be my least favorite; still, “Stars” is consistent with the theme of the mixtape. The reason behind this track being my least favorite is that some of the vocals are derived from a sample. It takes from the song “Starz in their Eyes” by Just Jack. In my humble opinion, I wanted to hear more of Walker’s vocals along with the original lyrics. However, my favorite lyrics to sing are at the beginning of the song: “You need somebody, baby, just call me / Tell me what always keeps you up at night.” To me, these lyrics flow naturally, being one of the only parts of the song that I sing with no exceptions. Overall, “Stars” is even more underwhelming in vocals and pace than “Tonight,” but it is just as groovy as the other tracks.
Track 6: “Noises”
I must say, listening to this song for the first time during its release threw me off. The five tracks before this one were cohesive and all had consistent instrumental patterns, and “Noises” definitely broke the pattern. Nevertheless, I was impressed with the full listen of this track. “Noises” reminds me of the entire vibe of her album “Heaven Knows,” and it’s the most underrated track on this mixtape. This track seemed off-putting at first, but I hyped it up. Although I don’t take a glance at this track and immediately play it without hesitation, “Noises” is also one of my unskippable songs on this mixtape, mixing Walker’s vocals with suspense.
Track 7: “Nice to Know You”
If I had to rank the mixtape based on how singable each track was, “Nice to Know You” would be on top. Whenever this track comes on, the lyrics and the overall beat of the song are infectious. Although “Nice to Know You” is another track that strays from the upbeat ones on the mixtape, it delivers chills to the listener when they hear “I’m emotional / You made a mess you know / Said you’re approachable.”
Track 8: “Stateside“
This track easily takes the spot of my favorite on the mixtape. When “Stateside” was first teased, I had already heard previous snippets of the track on TikTok. Listening to those leaked clips had impressed me from the very beginning, and when I say I’ve never skipped “Stateside”, I mean it. This track has a powerful instrumental, Walker’s clear and dreamy vocals, and elements from past albums, which certainly makes it the track on the mixtape that I love the most. The lyrics of this track hooked me in from the beginning. I recommend this track heavily to those who put music on blast and just dance, because that’s exactly what I do when this track comes on.
Track 9: “Romeo”
The final track on “Fancy That,” “Romeo,” was another unreleased song I had heard due to leaked clips on Tiktok. What makes this track so enjoyable is the energy and electric vibe of the instrumental, using electric guitar and strong synth bass. “Romeo” sounds almost fairy-tale-like, with electronic components and additional vocals apart from Walker’s. The catchiest lyrics in this song are near the end of the bridge: “You can fall in love with boys and girls and in between / So I promise that you shouldn’t waste your time on all of me.” This track is a masterpiece due to its intensity and contrast in melancholic lyrics to the brighter instrumental.
The whole mixtape exceeded my expectations, and I truly believe “Fancy That” is the perfect slice of Walker’s discography that every electronic pop fan should listen to. On the topic of the structure and flow of the mixtape, I rate it a 9/10. Although I wish the duration of quite a few songs were extended, the overall structure of the mixtape was cohesive and melted together well. Each song’s lyrics completely impressed me, which is why I give the lyrics from the mixtape an overall 10/10. Last but not least, my enjoyment of the mixtape is off the charts. I truly love this mixtape, and those who are chronic music enjoyers must listen to “Fancy That”, available on all streaming platforms.
