British-Albanian artist Dua Lipa rose to fame after her 2015 hit ‘Be The One’ became a UK Top 10 hit. However, it was her single ‘New Rules’ and its eye-catching video that truly brought her into the public eye, being an example of the long-term impact of streaming services on singles. Her 2020 album, ‘Future Nostalgia’, leaked during the first COVID lockdown, but proved to be successful both commercially and critically, turning her into a household name and making her one of the most-followed accounts on Instagram. After releasing tracks ‘Illusion’ and ‘Training Season,’ Dua Lipa has returning with Radical Optimism, an album that fuses trip-hop, Britpop, and rave cultures.
A psychedelic-pop infused tribute to UK rave culture, ‘Radical Optimism’ is Dua Lipa’s third studio album. The album was made with help from Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, Tobias Jesso Jr, Danny L Harle, alongside longtime collaborators Caroline Ailin and Ian Kirkpatrick. The album’s message is encapsulated in its title, with Dua Lipa highlighting the idea of going through chaos gracefully and feeling like one can weather any storm. Radical Optimism marks Dua Lipa’s attempts to create an album that will stand the test of time without just churning out hits.
Despite Dua Lipa describing the album as a “psychedelic-pop-infused tribute to UK rave culture,” many critics were unconvinced by this statement. There are moments in the album where they feel underwhelmed, and although the tracks sound great, they lack power and leave listening feeling dissatisfied. Part of the problem that critics have is that while some of the songs are good, there isn’t much else about them that stands out. For example, some songs sound like the typical tracks that you would expect to hear when music is injected into shopping centers. Elements of trip-hop and Britpop were promised to the listeners, but little could be found in this album.
That said, it’s worth remembering that Dua Lipa has long been a festival favourite, with her beachy-vibes suiting the carefree and optimistic atmosphere of festival crowds. Later in the summer, she’ll headline at Glastonbury and top the bill at a series of European festivals. If listening to the album in the context of a festival, it might find its feet and thrive. However, critics cannot ignore the fact that there was little beyond a personal relationship that Radical Optimism could latch onto. While this may be okay for some, it may leave something to be desired for others.
Radical Optimism was released on May 3rd, 2024, by Warmer Records
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