PinkPantheress – “Fancy Some More?”

One week ago, Pinkpantheress, along with an animated version of herself, took to social media to announce a remix companion project to her album Fancy That? Scrawling the names of twenty-three artists on a whiteboard, she unveiled a star-studded and unexpected lineup of collaborators, instantly becoming the most ambitious remix project since last year’s Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat by Charli xcx. Featuring JT, Kylie Minogue, Sega Bodega, and Bladee (to name a few) is not only a testament to her being as likeable as she is talented, but also reflects the creative possibilities and outlets her music can breathe through while also acting as a celebration of each featured collaborator’s artistry.  

The project is essentially divided into two, with the first half focusing on remixes done by pop vocalists, while the second focuses on DJs and producers. Unlike Charli’s remix project, however, this one lacks cohesion and is less of a top-to-bottom listen and more of a pick-and-choose-what-you-like type of experience. While this can make us question whether the project got lost in its eclecticism, extending nine tracks into twenty-two, five months after her sophomore album’s release is no easy feat. Also, we can’t help wonder, where is Tinashe? 

The first side of Fancy Some More? features the likes of Anitta, Seventeen, Oklou, Jade, Yves, JT, Sugababes, Kylie Minogue, Bladee, Zara Larsson, Ravyn Lenae, and Rachel Chinouriri, a perfect balance between paying homage to the formative figures that have influenced her sound as well as her contemporaries that have grown on the same internet culture she has. Aside from the previously released Nia Archives remix, her viral track Illegal gets two reworks by none other than Brazilian trailblazing icon Anitta and Seventeen. 

While Anitta was one of the more unexpected collaborators, the remix fell short of our expectations as soon as she began singing in Spanish instead of Portuguese — needless to say we wish we had gotten Funk Generation Anitta and not Versions of Me. On the other hand, while Seventeen’s remix is decent, it barely adds anything to the original. PinkPantheress’s inner K-pop stan came through again as she featured former Loona member Yves on one of two Stars remixes. Yves’ dreamy vocals, along with reworked production and added breakbeats, position the track as one of the best pairings on the project. 

Sugababes’ and Kylie Minogue’s appearances, while short, make for sonically interesting moments. The 2000s group’s feature on Nice to Know You breathes new life into the song and feels like a symbolic way of them publicly endorsing and acknowledging PinkPantheress as the future of pop in the UK. Kylie Minogue’s take on Stateside is in the form of half a verse, with the rest of the song remaining almost untouched, which seems as if Pink hadn’t utilised the Australian icon to her full potential.

On the more contemporary side, you have features such as Oklou fresh off her collaboration with FKA Twigs. She is one of the few artists on the record to take a track and transform it into something radically different in a way Charli’s remix collaborators have done previously. Oklou takes Girl Like Me from its bouncy and vibrant sound to a murkier slowed down atmosphere, lacing it with the same opaque qualities that make her own music so captivating. While Jade, Bladee, Rachel Chinouriri and sadly Ravyn Lenae’s remixes are all quite forgettable and fall short of what a collaboration between Pink and these artists could be, JT and Zara Larsson blow it out of the park. 

Taking time off her one-sided X arguments, JT completely bodied rapping over grime and drum n’ bass in a way very few rap girls have, becoming one of the most memorable moments off the entire project. Closing off our review of the first half is none other than Zara Larsson’s version of Stateside. “I’ve been touring stateside, kissing my Swedish boy over FaceTime,” she sings. Everything about this collaboration is pop perfection and is truly a remix on par with the original. 

Moving onto the slew of dance and electronic acts featured on the second half we get Nia Archives, Kaytranada, Basement Jaxx, Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard, DJ Caio Prince, Mochakk, Loukeman, Leod, Sega Bodega, Groove Armada, and Kilimanjaro. Girl Like Me with Kaytranada is everything you’d expect from him — groovy layers of catchy and dynamic melodies fusing R&B and house that make up his signature sound. On the other hand, Basement Jaxx and Joe Goddard’s takes on Tonight are interesting explorations yet give us no memorable moments. 

But don’t worry, you then are greeted with easily the best song on the entire project: DJ Caio Prince and Adame DJ’s Stars remix. Moving from funk’s signature off-beat bounces and techno-hip-hop beats often heard at favela parties, there is just something so addictive to it. Adding onto the list of Brazilian collaborators is Mochakk with his take on Noises. Slowing it down, he pushes it to the seven-minute mark and adds a lot of different textures, synths, and strums as well as playing with its tempo. As for the remaining remixes, let’s just say that they remind us more of Dawn of Chromatica’s chaotic curation and sonic explorations than they do of Brat’s remix album.

The project is equal parts surprising, innovative, and fun with a lot of ecstatic and memorable moments here and there. However, it’s hard to grasp exactly what it adds to the original album. While you can sift through the project to find your personal favourites, listening to it fully front to back stretches it out too much. After all, who needs to hear four different versions of Stateside or Nice to Know You? 

Fancy Some More? is an ambitious record that brings together artists from all around the world — something to be commended for. Yet, perhaps some of these artists could have been put to better use on original tracks instead of reworking songs from Fancy That. All things aside, the album confirms that PinkPantheress is the people’s princess, and she will surprise you by completing another side quest when you least expect it.