On Caprisongs, FKA Twigs goes in a more casual, pop-oriented direction as she fills the 17-track mixtape with morphing compositions. Where her 2019 album Magdalene was crafted in the aftermath of heartbreak and a journey through recovery, Caprisongs is yet another tonal shift in her hypnotic sound. It’s light on its feet, constantly flirting with the pop structures that she’s always precariously balanced on. At the same time, the loose concept and thematic elements give it enough experimental flair to feel distinctly like an FKA Twigs project. After giving us a glance into a deeply vulnerable side of herself, FKA Twigs moves towards something more playful on Caprisongs.
As always, her wispy vocals float delicately on wispy melodies and upbeat production. Bending her vocals to the autotune and light production with ease, the delivery from FKA Twigs is stunning. While Caprisongs has departed from the experimental sounds found in her earlier work, it nevertheless retains her signature style of compositions. A mishmash of art pop, hyperpop, hip-hop, and UK Bass, the album explores countless avenues that always circle back to the mystique and sensuality that makes FKA Twigs so compelling. More of an adventurous flex than a vital addition to her canon, the mixtape functions as a victory lap for her incredible discography. There’s nothing that profoundly moves you the way Magdalene does but that never feels like the intention here. Collaborating with The Weeknd, Jorja Smith, shygirl, and Daniel Caesar, Caprisongs branches out safely but consistently throughout. “Tears in the Club” is about as close as you’ll get to a radio hit with FKA Twigs but it keeps a flair for the eccentric with Arca’s distorted production.
Of course, it’s a little jarring to hear such a massive tonal shift between projects. Playing it safe means that Caprisongs doesn’t have the same edge and narrative sequencing that her previous works have. Everything is a little simpler and goes along with the flow of the mixtape rather than following an overarching theme. Songs like “Minds of Men” get lost in the hazy melodies and never develop beyond the surface level. The extensive sampling sounds like a perfect fit for FKA Twigs on paper but it’s often more distracting than it intends to be with how many cuts there are. Caprisongs is a fun mixtape that doesn’t seem concerned about elevating FKA Twigs to new heights but that also means a few things get lost in its lighthearted shift.
Must Listens: Tears in the Club, Darjeeling, Ride The Dragon
