When FKA Twigs kicked off this year by dropping ‘Eusexua’, it felt like more than just your average album release. A thrillingly raw and resonant experience inspired by Twigs raving in Prague’s techno scene, it was her most realised statement on finding joy and escapism amidst her tumultuous personal life. 2022 mixtape ‘Caprisongs’ was merely fickle foreplay. The album has also been a major success for the British experimental pop legend, having been shortlisted for this year’s Mercury Prize and is also her first-ever Grammy nomination.
So when Twigs announced the album’s follow-up album ‘Afterglow’ – which started as a few tracks for the ‘Eusexua’ deluxe, before eventually morphing into its own standalone album – the question remained: how on earth is she going to top ‘Eusexua’?
Soundtracking the hours post-club while “extending the high into the afters”, ‘Afterglow’ is a ballsy move for Twigs. Here, the kicks are more brutal, the energy more carnal. ‘Love Crimes’ ignites a primal, subterranean energy, hammered into the soundscape by those pummeling drums, while ‘Hard’ balances Twigs’ coquettish soprano with skipping kicks as she innocently asks: “So tell me would you do it hard?”. Meanwhile, the latter half of ‘Sushi’ sees Twigs foray into a sweaty NYC ballroom – it’s one of her most carefree excursions yet.
There’s also a distinctly alien edge to ‘Afterglow’, warping familiar dance rhythms into a delirious, surreal haze. Atmospheric breaks glitch and slide on ‘Slushy’, while ‘Cheap Hotel’ chops and screws a typical garage beat into psychedelic fantasy. It feels like Twigs’ version of stumbling back home, sleep-deprived and giggly – adding an eerie lightness that elevates these songs from your standard dance-pop fare.
The problem with ‘Afterglow’ is that it’s following such a monumental achievement in dance-pop. ‘Eusexua’ teetered between delicate highs threatened by vicious lows; the hedonism felt earned, and Twigs’ pain gave a great depth to the record – a depth that simply isn’t present on ‘Afterglow’. Nothing here reaches the dark humour of ‘24hr Dog’, or the gruelling mess of ‘Sticky’. Sure, ‘Afterglow’ extends the world of ‘Eusexua’ sonically, but there’s less nuance in its storytelling.
‘Afterglow’ might be ‘Eusexua’ offcuts, but FKA Twigs’ B-sides are so good they can outrank entire discographies. Does it live up to the lofty marketing of its predecessor? Perhaps not. But it still proves that Twigs is one of the most prolific and original alt-pop icons of our times.
Details
- Record label: Young
- Release date: November 14, 2025
