#REVIEW: DUA LIPA – “FUTURE NOSTALGIA”

By Mr. Will Wong

Following the success of being crowned Best New Artist at the GRAMMYS is never an easy feat, but Dua Lipa overcomes the feared sophomore jinx with a smashing follow-up to her 2017 self-titled Disc. We weren’t sure what to expect from this Disc based off her Billboard Hot 100 #2-charting single Don’t Start Now, which decidedly went a darker, dancy route, but this collection of eleven shimmery Nu-Disco Pop tracks just might be the cure to help us survive this isolation period.

Dua Lipa sounds even more assured, confident and in-control of her musical direction. While the sounds aren’t as eclectic as her debut, she has taken her strengths, focused-in on that and hit the accelerate pedal. Future Nostalgia is a Pop triumph and certainly one of the best Albums we’ve heard in quite some time.  Her soothing, sultry voice has a way of seeping into the tunes like a layer and an instrument, lyrically connecting with our hearts.

Producers Jeff Bhasker (Harry Styles, Kanye West), Stuart Price (Madonna, The Killers) and returning collaborator Koz play pivotal roles on the Disc.  These tracks ring true to the Disc’s title, with gives some familiar nods to tunes of yesteryear that made us dance, enhanced with some fresh sounds and sleek production.

FUTURE NOSTALGIA brings us back to the mid-80s, an era where Prince shined brightest, volun-telling us “I know you’re not used to a female Alpha”. This is Dua Lipa at fiercest feminist self.

DON’T START NOW needs no introduction having conquered charts of the world.  Months after first listening to it, we still haven’t grown tired of it!

COOL brought us some ’80s Synth-Pop joy and perusing credits, we see Electropop legend Price, who brought us Madonna‘s Grammy-winning Confessions on a Dancefloor, was responsible for this!

PHYSICAL was released as the Album’s second single. It is an undeniable nod to Rock/Dance Pop anthems and we totally feel that this subtle homage to Flashdance (yes we caught that drumroll lifted from Michael Sembello‘s Maniac!) is totally under-appreciated.

LEVITATING lives gloriously in the past, one of the Disc’s definitively uplifting moments taking rhythmic influences from Disco greats like Nile Rodgers and Chic, coming at us with the cheer of something off Spice Girls’ debut album.

HALLUNCINATE is yet another superb contribution from Price. An undeniable bass line, melodically borrowing from genre greats like Donna Summer and Kylie Minogue.

BREAK MY HEART is the chosen third single, a nod to Queen‘s Another One Bits the Dust, which proves we can never get tired of that iconic bass pattern.

GOOD IN BED has Dua Lipa at her sensual best, daringly tacking her sexuality and the complicated topic of break-up and make-up sex in a whimsical way.

BOYS WILL BE BOYS is all about our generation’s accountability to the next, calling-out those that let double standards slip. “Boys will be boys, girls will be women” – if you find yourselves saying this, you might be part of the problem because kids are listening, Well said, Dua! 👏

FUTURE NOSTALGIA possesses that magical ability to transport us away start to finish. It is an instant classic which at a concise 37 minutes, has us tapping the repeat album option on Spotify.