Sotomayor’s Wabi Sabi, a musical suggestion from last week, possesses a truly singular character rarely encountered in contemporary releases. Among the few creations it brought to mind was *Topical Dancer*, the 2022 album by Charlotte Adigery and Bolis Pupul, an album I frequently found myself revisiting this past week.
Outwardly, these two records do not appear overtly comparable. Nevertheless, both stand as raw, unpolished fusions of electronic and organic components, specifically crafted for uninhibited revelry on the dancefloor. The manner in which their various sounds and rhythms interlock feels undeniably from the same creative vein.
Naturally, considerable distinctions exist between them. Adigery and Pupul draw more significantly from rock and early electronic genres, occasionally bringing to mind groups such as the Talking Heads. The potent bass lines on selections like “Ceci N’est Pas un Cliché” effortlessly dispel any hesitations one might harbor about letting loose and moving freely.
However, the album isn’t solely about frivolous amusement. *Topical Dancer’s* socio-political observations are nearly as incisive as its basslines. In “Blenda,” Adigery intones, “Go back to your country, where you belong. Siri, can you tell me where I belong?” set against a backdrop of percussive synth bass and 80s drum machine hits.
On “Esperanto,” she provides playful guidance to those who utter divisive statements: “Don’t say ‘But I’m allowed to say that because I grew up in a black neighbourhood’, Say ‘My n……eighbour’,” elongating the nnn sound for a duration that feels quite unsettling. Furthermore, “Don’t say ‘White people can’t dance’, Say ‘Tom marches to the beat of a different drum’,” articulating each syllable with a charmingly askew delivery, creating what feels like the sonic counterpart of awkward humor.
Nevertheless, the album isn’t entirely comprised of direct challenges to bigots, xenophobes, and misogynists. There’s “HAHA,” a standout track appearing later in the album, which showcases Adigery laughing continuously for almost four minutes, pausing only periodically to utter, “Guess you had to be there.”
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