Album Review: Mabel – ‘About Last Night…’
From raw vulnerability to unapologetic self-empowerment, Mabel captures the multitude of emotions experienced on a night out that never happened, in sophomore album ‘About Last Night…’.
The highly anticipated record ‘About Last Night…’ follows Mabel’s debut album ‘High Expectations’, which amassed over 4 billion streams and became the 2019 biggest selling debut album by a British woman. Despite the undeniable success of the Platinum-selling artist, Mabel has recently opened up about how she has struggled with self-confidence and online negativity for much of her career. Lockdown provided Mabel with a much-needed opportunity to prioritise her own wellbeing and rediscover herself, resulting in the formation of her self-assured second album ‘About Last Night…’.
The record was developed between Mabel’s home in London and studios in Los Angeles, with input from various renowned songwriters, including Kamille, MNEK, Raye, Jax Jones, and SG Lewis. Inspiration from dance-pop and ballroom culture is seen throughout the album, with Mabel naming Madonna, Kylie Minogue, and Cece Peniston as major influences on its creation.
Following the 30-second string-laden teaser ‘About Last Night (Intro)’, the album opens with ‘Animal’, a celebratory expression of independence and self-confidence. Such assertive female energy characterises lead single ‘Let Them Know’, which set high expectations for Mabel’s second album, with the track amassing over 50 million Spotify streams and peaking at number 4 in the iTunes UK song chart. Mabel’s ‘dominant side’, as the singer-songwriter calls it, is also seen in ‘Shy’ and ‘Definition’, tracks which combine bold lyrics with strong beats and catchy hooks to create feel-good dance anthems. The theme of unapologetic self-assurance continues in ‘Good Luck’, where Mabel teamed up with Jax Jones and Galantis to produce an upbeat pop song about knowing your worth following a breakup.
Unlike previous tracks on the record so far, ‘Take Your Name’ employs a much slower tempo and minimal production, as Mabel captures feelings of loss and regret experienced during heartbreak. The track serves as the album’s interlude, and signals the beginning of the second half of ‘About Last Night…’, revealing a more vulnerable side of Mabel. In ‘Overthinking’ (featuring 24Goldin), Mabel reflects on how focussing so heavily on her career led to the neglect of her own wellbeing, resulting in the use of self-medication and parties as a form of escapism. Despite its heartbreak undertones, ‘Let Love Go’ (featuring US rapper Lil Tecca) promotes self-love and not being tied to the past, with grooves and string sections reminiscent of ‘80s disco.
Female solidarity is a prominent message throughout the album. Unlike typical breakup songs which often consist of bitter feelings towards a former lover’s new partner, ‘I Love Your Girl’ expresses the opposite, as Mabel describes how she likes her ex’s new girlfriend. The importance of friendship in overcoming heartbreak is highlighted in ‘Crying On The Dancefloor’, an empowering track about females building up one another and turning vulnerability into strength.
‘When The Party’s Over’ captures the abrupt transition from the sense of escapism provided by a night out, to when reality hits the next morning, as the party-based narrative of ‘About Last Night…’ comes to an end. The track showcases Mabel’s ethereal vocals, as she describes feelings of remorse, and longing to be as carefree as when she was a teenager. The sombre track contrasts with the final song on the album ‘LOL’, a danceable and hook-laden track where ‘the tables have been turned around’, as Mabel celebrates the power she has found in moving on from a toxic ex.
Although ‘About Last Night…’ was largely conceived during the midst of the pandemic, when the country was in lockdown, the album manages to perfectly capture the experience of an eventful night out. From the anticipatory excitement of getting ready, to the lingering sense of remorse that hits the morning after, Mabel explores all aspects of this journey and how it relates to what she is currently going through.
Mabel’s headline show is scheduled for June 17th at Somerset House in London, where she will be playing tracks from ‘About Last Night…’ live for the first time.
Words by Emily Savage
