Album Review: FKA Twigs- Eusexua
FKA Twigs’ glimmering new LP, Eusexua, is expressive and introspective, analyzing the freedom nightlife provides.
The idea for Eusexua began during her nights of sneaking out to raves in Prague between shooting days of Rupert Sanders' 2024 remake of The Crow, which she starred in alongside Bill Skarsgard. It was this club scene where Twigs began theorizing about Eusexua, a phrase she’s since coined. She turns to examples and anecdotes of the feeling when defining it. She outlined it as “the pinnacle of human experience,” in an Instagram post. In interviews with Jake Shane for his podcast, Therapuss, and Chioma Nnadi for British Vogue, she’s described it as “the feeling just before an orgasm,” and “when you’ve been kissing a lover for hours.”
Twigs began Eusexua’s worldbuilding with the release of its title track in September. She also offered “Perfect Stranger” and “Drums of Death” ahead of the album’s release. A double music video for “Eusexua” and “Drums of Death”, featured Twigs leading a corporate office in a half-naked flashmob, and helped fans begin to understand the project’s ethos.
Each of the album’s 11 tracks shines. “Drums of Death” is an aggressive invitation to the rave, “Relax and ease your mind, ‘cause you work so much.” Once you’re in, she’s quick to map out the scene for you. “Room of Fools” outlines the inhibition-free nature of her party, “We’re open wounds, just bleeding out the pressure. And it feels nice.”
“Sticky” is a career highlight. It begins as a piano ballad, but quickly picks up. Twigs' vocals are electrified and distorted throughout. She explores her relationship with her body. The British singer very publicly dealt with physical abuse from ex-boyfriend, Shia LaBeouf, as well as censorship of her figure after a Calvin Klein campaign. “Striptease” is sexy and abrasive, finding Twigs breathless while shedding layers, literally and emotionally, for her lover.
“24hr Dog” is another standout. It is quiet and patient but demands attention. She tiptoes with the beat, taking the chorus to submit completely to her lover. She puts it plainly: “I’m a dog for you.”
Eusexua’s greatest strength lies in its very conscious inspirations. “Girl Feels Good” harkens to moments from Madonna’s Ray of Light. Vocal stylings on “Room of Fools” are notably Bjork-esque. On “Striptease,” Twigs seems to draw from more current contemporaries, like Eartheater, who was also called to provide backup vocals on the title track. The most important of these influences, though, is Twigs herself. Eusexua pulls from every past FKA project, masterfully. The worldbuilding of Magdalene blends with the intimacy and tenderness of LP1. She brings the playful experimentation of her 2022 mixtape, Caprisongs, and the abrasive sexuality featured on M3LL155X.
Though Twigs’ new world and ethos may seem complicated, one listen clears the fog. Eusexua invites, despite it’s harsh exterior. She’s the cool girl at the club, the one to get you dancing, let you hit her vape, and walk you home when the sun rises.
-DJ Estrogen Addict AKA Andie Kirby