ALIAS

Album review

On her 2018 debut EP, Cruel Practice, NUXXE co-founder Shygirl delivered brash, sexually charged lyrics in her distinctive no-nonsense monotone over a jarring hybrid of grime, post-industrial hip-hop, and U.K. garage produced by Sega Bodega and Dinamarca. After releasing additional singles like the astounding "BB" and making key appearances on albums by Georgia, Zebra Katz, and Arca, she moved to French label Because Music with her second EP, ALIAS, which sports production by Sega Bodega, SOPHIE, Kai Whiston, Happa, and Karma Kid. While less abrasive than Cruel Practice, the equally impressive follow-up maintains the dark, provocative edge of her previous work. She taunts "Why ride with the devil when I could give you hell?" on the trap-ish "TWELVE," and is extremely upfront with her sexual commands on tracks like "SLIME" and "LENG." The standouts are the most club-friendly tracks Shygirl has released to date. "FREAK" starts out slow and disconcertingly woozy, then picks up with a hard-charging industrial techno beat, matching the speedy wit of her rhymes. "TASTY" is a surprisingly ecstatic house track, with Shygirl raising her voice more than usual and demanding to be treated right over ravey pianos and choppy breakbeats. The more hypnotic "SIREN" alludes to Y2K-era pop-trance, meshing perfectly with the song's lyrics about money, power, and fast cars.
© Paul Simpson /TiVo