PinkPantheress – Fancy That – clashmusic.com

Less than two years after ‘Heaven Knows’, PinkPantheress returns with ‘Fancy That’, a mixtape that signals a new phase in her career. Where her earlier work earned both praise and criticism for its overt sampling and nostalgia-driven references, this project feels like a decisive shift. Everything is more deliberate now: the curation, the structure, the storytelling. The record mirrors the emotional arc of a night out — the early giddiness, the chaos, the introspection, and the inevitable morning-after debrief. Through it all, she’s the sole voice at the centre. No features, just her, with samples and interpolations carefully chosen to colour the space around her.
Executive produced by PinkPantheress and longtime collaborator Aksel Arvid, the tape also brings in a tight-knit group of producers from both home and abroad, including (and not limited to) UK names like phil and Jkarri, and US-based The Dare. Their contributions add texture without ever crowding her distinct sound.
Writing and sample credits stretch impressively far — from Sugababes and Basement Jaxx to Just Jack and Nardo Wick. It shows her ability to tap into homegrown UK pop history while confidently reaching across genres. There’s a noticeable shift in how she uses samples. Earlier projects were sometimes criticised for being too reference-heavy; ‘Fancy That’ is more curated, more intentional.
The night kicks off with ‘Illegal’, a nervy opener full of quiet tension. “Is this illegal? It feels illegal,” she repeats, half-whisper, half-dare. It’s the sound of sneaking out, of something thrilling just beginning. Then comes ‘Girl Like Me’, flipping a Romeo-era Basement Jaxx hook into something wistful yet bright — dancefloor euphoria laced with heartbreak.
‘Tonight’, the lead single, needs little introduction. With its string-led bounce and fluttery pace, it’s become a TikTok staple thanks to a viral dance Pink performed both in the video and alongside various celebrities. It’s pure pop culture in motion. Lyrically, it’s full of her trademark cheek: “Wanna sex with me? Come talk to me,” she sings — playful, poised, and completely in control. The track lands between bratty confidence and bedroom confession.
That same cheek carries into ‘Stars’, one of the tape’s most layered moments. Longtime fans will clock the full-circle moment, recalling her unreleased 2021 track ‘Attracted To You’, which sampled Just Jack’s ‘Starz In Their Eyes’. This time, she lifts the lyric — “Why’d you wanna go and put stars in your eyes?” — and reworks it into something more glittery and reflective. What began as a floating demo a couple of years back is now a standout cut, with writing credits from Just Jack himself, an artist she’s openly admired.
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The midpoint ‘Intermission’, a snatch of studio chat with producer phil, sets up the jungle-heavy ‘Noises’, where a clipped Nardo Wick hook pulls the project into rougher, more restless territory. That energy flows into ‘Nice To Know You’, where Pink’s featherlight vocals glide over a sample of ‘Spiral’ — a lesser-known Sugababes deep cut. Rather than defaulting to a big hit, she opts for something more unconventional and atmospheric. The choice proves her taste is guided by feeling, not fan service. It bridges eras quietly, expanding her palette while maintaining the tape’s cohesion.
Later, ‘Stateside’ widens the lens further. Jangly guitars and The Dare’s polished, indie-pop production lend it a distinctly Britpop glaze, kind of mirroring Lily Allen’s ‘The Fear’ era reimagined with cooler detachment. There’s a knowing optimism in its bounce, though the thrill has now passed, and clarity is starting to settle in.
By the time we reach closing track ‘Romeo’, the dust has cleared. Pink sounds more focused now — not cold, just cautious. “Step one / Don’t let yourself fall in love / ’Cause that is not fun / Step two…” she warns, half-serious, half-satirical. It’s like writing rules you already know you’ll break.“You’re my Romeo / And I just changed your name, now it’s Romeo,” she shrugs, slipping between sincerity and satire in a single line. It’s funny and yet painfully true — narrating delusion and detachment in the same breath. No dramatic ending. Just emotional clarity, in her own words.
‘Fancy That’ finds PinkPantheress in full control. The samples are cleaner, more deliberate — used to tell stories rather than simply reference them. From Sugababes and Basement Jaxx to Just Jack and Nardo Wick, the influences are varied but handpicked. That full-circle moment on ‘Stars’ is one of the mixtape’s most striking flips, a clear sign of how far she’s come.
Sounds of the UK run through every track — garage, jungle, indie-dance, Brit girlie pop — but this time, it feels more curated. The Sugababes interpolation on ‘Nice to Know You’ reflects her sharpened instincts, repurposing melodies to bridge eras and connect generations. No features, no distractions. Just her, telling stories and building a new soundscape out of the one that raised her.
Fancy That.
8/10
Words: Ashley Rophina
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