- In 2014, Throwing Shade demonstrated both the richness and breadth of her musical world. 19 Jewels, for No Pain In Pop, explored bubblegum synth-pop and R&B-tinged electronica, while a single for Bristol's Happy Skull roamed across techno's wider vistas. For her first record of 2015, Nabihah Iqbal consolidates these successes. In places, Fate Xclusive follows the formula of its No Pain In Pop predecessor a little too closely. The opener is another Emily Bee-featuring pop number, which once again uses sugar as a metaphor for desire. This EP's "Honey Trap" doesn't quite match the wondrous warmth of "Sweet Tooth"; there's something quite wintry to its tinkling chimes and breathy panpipes.
The chilly mood persists elsewhere. "Mirror"'s glassy synths and booming drums create an impression of vast space; Iqbal's usual sampled vocals sound distant and a little lacklustre. Melancholic slow jam "4Drake" handles this new sense of scale better, and there's a frisson of energy in its crisp claps. Finally, Iqbal revisits her techno side on the gorgeous "4eva Fate." Like the rest of the EP, the results are no great surprise, but no real disappointment either.
Tracklist01. Honeytrap feat. Emily Bee
02. Mirror
03. 4eva Fate
04. 4Drake