On the first listen, Tyla’s sophomore album “A*Pop” struggles to find a place to land. When it eventually does, its impact is not as groundbreaking as the album rollout has primed the listener to expect. The title of the record, as well as the bold neon visuals that have marked its rollout, suggest music that is slightly more up-tempo, edgy and pop-heavy than what is actually delivered, and therein lies the disconnect. Instead of giving true form to the subgenre it claims to define, “A*Pop” muddies the waters further and leaves the listener full of questions. We are left wondering what exactly Tyla’s intentions were instead of enjoying what is in reality, a sweet mix of songs, if a bit underwhelming. In the end it falls victim to its own marketing and lofty ambitions, almost like a lover who overpromises and then under-delivers.
The lead singles “Chanel” and “She Did It Again (feat. Zara Larsson)” , as well as new tracks like the soft dance pop number “Kiss”, afro house infused “Crazy of Me (feat. MaWhoo)” and “Mr Nonchalant” (reminiscent of y2K Beyonce), all give glimpses of the vibrant African pop vision Tyla may have had in mind, but whatever effect they were supposed to have is dampened by tracks like “Feel Something” and “Fairytale (feat. Liquideep)”, which aimlessly wander in and out of the listener’s ears with no clear hook, bridge or destination. The result is a project that at times feels sleepy and muted, despite the effervescent undertones it carries.
Still, there are a few hidden gems to glean from this record. When approached with adjusted expectations and less insistence on clear cut genre definition, “A*Pop” reveals itself to be an imaginative take on South African music, afro fusion and RnB. Featuring a number of notable South African acts, “A*Pop” reaffirms Tyla’s roots and positions itself as a classy pushback against those who may have expected her to take a more westernized approach to the project. What “Fairytale” lacks in climactic progression, it makes up for with its nostalgic quality, excavating and refurbishing an old Liquideep fan favourite. “Hot Tubs” and “I Don’t Care (feat. Babalwa M)” are a heady blend of EDM, house music and RnB, while “That Girl” infuses steamy funk elements with log drums and her signature layered vocals.
Intentionally or not, “A*Pop” succeeds at carving out a distinct lane for Tyla, one that bubbles with possibilities and sets her apart from her predecessors. “A*Pop” may not be the bold, provocative African pop record that was promised, but with a revised selling point it could prove itself to be one of the more compelling Afro fusion albums of the year.
