Dua Lipa: Radical Optimism review – a banger-filled missive from dating land

(Warner)
Talk of a new musical direction proves unfounded as the Grammy-winning singer’s third album shares more retro-inspired dance pop and lessons from her love life

Dua Lipa’s last album, 2020’s Future Nostalgia, moved the cultural dial. Released into the pandemic, it was ubiquitous, neon-hued and life-affirming, winning two Brits and her third Grammy overall, confirming Lipa as an international superstar. It also kicked off a disco revival boom echoed through numerous other artists, not least dance-pop veteran Kylie Minogue, Róisín Murphy and Jessie Ware. Even Beyoncé went disco for her Renaissance (2022), saluting Black queer culture.

But in the video for Lipa’s Barbie soundtrack hit of 2023, Dance the Night, a mirror ball shatters. And the messaging around Lipa’s third album, Radical Optimism, has been keen to fast-forward her into a new era, establish the requisite fresh narrative and, perhaps, move the dial again.