Review Summary: Topical + Dancer = Outstanding
Topical = biting, satirical, speak-sang lyrics taking aim at xenophobes, fetishists and critics.
Dancer = hard-edged house, techno and electropop beats in the vein of Against All Logic.
Charlotte Adigéry brings the topical and Bolis Pupul brings the dancer in their first collaborative album, which is a prime example of a sum being greater than its parts. On paper, Charlotte’s observations might elicit a smirk, a momentary “oh that’s clever”. On their own, Bolis’ beats could definitely fill a dance floor but might become tiresome after 51 minutes. Together however, the duo’s vocals and production combine to complement and highlight each other’s strengths.
The brutally honest lyrics of “It Hit Me” are paired with a caustic, industrial beat that is almost painful, which tells you that this isn’t an easy listen and forces you pay closer attention to the confrontational stories being told. The dance groove on “Haha” is on its own serviceable, but is elevated into a uniquely whimsical triumph through Charlotte’s cackling vocalisations that punctuate the track.
Topical Dancer has a sense of seriousness in its themes and sound design, but then its delivery demonstrates a complete lack of it. Pay attention to the take-downs of racists, but don’t you dare stop dancing while you do so. It is an album that lyrically and conceptually pushes the boundaries of art-pop, and (even more impressively) it does so in an incredibly listenable way. Oh, and points for the album cover, which is one of best I’ve seen.
Here’s to a fruitful career of collaborations between these two exciting new artists. The sum of the equation is clear: Topical + Dancer = Outstanding.
