M3LL155X

''M3LL155X'' (pronounced "Melissa") is the third extended play (EP) by English singer and songwriter FKA Twigs, released on 13 August 2015 by Young. The EP was lauded by music critics after its release and peaked at number 63 on the ''Billboard'' 200 becoming her second entry on the chart.

Background

In November 2014, producer Boots, whose work includes producing music on Beyoncé's 2013 eponymous album, announced he was working on Twigs' third extended play.

''M3LL155X'' was completed by November 2014, and she was waiting for the end of her ''LP1'' tour before releasing any material. She had also been working on a music video for every song, which delayed the release.

When Twigs was 18, she began working with local London producers to try to find "her sound". Around the time is when she wrote "I'm Your Doll". She ended up producing a lot of what she calls "really bad demos." In an interview with ''Complex'', Twigs admitted that she had a self-hatred while writing her debut studio album '' LP1'', which she considers "quite normal" for a young person.

Before ''M3LL155X'' had a title, fans and reporters referred to the extended play as ''EP3'', as a continuation of the pattern started by '' EP1'' and '' EP2''. In June 2015, she announced the name of the EP to be ''Melissa''. "Melissa" is the name of Twigs's personal female energy. She explains that Melissa is not an alter ego, and clarifies that her female energy never had a name until the EP was being finalised. She named the extended play ''M3LL155X'' as a way of separating it from herself. It was this energy that made her want to appear pregnant in the "Glass & Patron" music video and the videos that follow.

Release and promotion

The music video for "Glass & Patron", directed by Twigs herself, debuted on 23 March 2015 as part of the 2015 YouTube Music Awards. The song "Figure 8" premiered on Zane Lowe's radio show Beats 1 on 3 August 2015. The song "In Time" premiered on Annie Mac's radio show on BBC Radio 1 as well as on Sirius XMU an hour before the extended play's release. On 31 August 2015, "In Time" impacted contemporary hit radio in the United Kingdom as the lead single from the EP.

The extended play was released on 13 August 2015 as a digital download. Twigs unveiled the album artwork on her Instagram account. It was shot and edited by artist Matthew Stone.

''M3LL155X'' short film

A short film was released simultaneously with the EP's release. The self-directed 16-minute video features four of the songs: "Figure 8", "I'm Your Doll", "In Time" and the previously released video for "Glass & Patron".

The video begins with the song "Figure 8", and features a cameo of fashion icon Michèle Lamy dressed as an anglerfish. Her hands and arms are entirely ornamented in jewelry. Near the end of the song, Lamy inserts the esca into her mouth. She opens her mouth to reveal a luminescent ball floating from her mouth. The song "I'm Your Doll" begins with a CGI animation of a nude woman inflating created by digital artist Jihoon Yoo. The video then cuts to a scene of Twigs, with the body of a blow-up doll, lying in a bed. A man lusts over her and proceeds to have sex with her plastic body. The doll body is deflated after he impregnated her. The song "In Time" begins and shows a pregnant Twigs, as well as a normal Twigs dancing for a man in a jewel (the man was previously featured in her video for "Papi Pacify" from '' EP2''). As the song ends, Twigs's water breaks, and pastel paint drips down her legs and forms a puddle around her feet. A white van with pink and blue handprints flashes on the screen as the music video for "Glass & Patron" begins. A sample of "Mothercreep" begins as Twigs prepares to give birth to dancers and coloured mesh. The scene cuts to a vogue battle on a runway as "Glass & Patron" plays. Twigs begins as a judge of the battle but then participates near the end.

''Billboard'' described the video as "jaw-dropping" and a "video statement". ''Rolling Stone'' compared the music video to the work of director David Lynch. The music video also received two nominations from 2016 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Visual Effects and Best Choreography.

Critical reception

''M3LL155X'' received widespread acclaim from contemporary music critics upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 89, based on 12 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim". Kris Ex from ''Billboard'' described the extended play as "spacious, paranoid, and sultry," but stated that the songs lacked hooks. Ex commented that even though the EP makes a statement, it also leaves unanswered questions. Adam Kivel from ''Consequence of Sound'' compares the EP to the uncanny valley, stating that the music is similar to R&B and pop, but it still pulls the listener out of their comfort zone. Andy Gill from ''The Independent'' stated that the music is more focused and coherent than '' LP1''. Gill also commented that Twigs's art is so unique, she's "staring stardom in the face." Anupa Mistry from ''Pitchfork'' stated that ''M3LL155X'' builds on Twigs's previous work, and her voice "prowls" over the music, compared to her previously soft voice. Mistry also declares Twigs to be the feminist pop star that we need. Harley Brown from ''Spin'' stated that Twigs seems to be "growing stronger," and described the sound of the extended play as "futuristic" and "nostalgic."

Track listing

All tracks written and produced by FKA Twigs and Boots, except where noted.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''M3LL155X''.

*FKA Twigs - vocals, production, vocal arrangements, drums, programming, keyboards, synthesizer
* Jordan "BOOTS" Asher - production, vocal arrangements, percussion, drums, programming, keyboards, synthesizer
*Tic - production (tracks 3)
*Cy An - additional keyboards, drums, vocals, programming, edits (track 2)
*John Davis - mastering (all tracks)
*Happa - additional programming (track 3)
*Marco Pasquariello - additional engineering (track 3)
*Mark "Spike" Stent - mixing (track 3)
*Matthew Stone - photography
*Geoff Swan - additional mixing (track 3)
* David Wrench - mixing (tracks 2, 4); vocal mixing (track 3)
*Stuart Write - mixing (tracks 1, 5)

Charts

Release history

References

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2015 EPs
FKA Twigs albums
Young Turks (record label) albums
Electronic EPs
Art pop albums