Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul’s ‘Topical Dancer’: A Danceable Exploration of Identity and Social Commentary

Belgian-Martinique duo Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul’s debut album, Topical Dancer, released in March 2022, is a compelling blend of electronic music, sharp social commentary, and dancefloor energy. Co-written and co-produced with Soulwax, the album navigates themes of racial discrimination, identity, and societal issues with a unique and often humorous approach.

Origins and Collaboration

Adigéry and Pupul, both based in Belgium with shared heritage from Martinique, first connected while working on the soundtrack for the 2016 Belgian drama Belgica, having been invited by Soulwax [1]. This collaboration led to the creation of Topical Dancer, released under the Deewee label [1]. The duo had previously released three EPs on Deewee [1].

Musical Style and Influences

Topical Dancer seamlessly blends electronic and organic elements, creating a sound that is both experimental and accessible. The album draws influences from rock and early electronic music, with comparisons drawn to acts like Talking Heads [1]. The album features a diverse sonic landscape, incorporating Creole, Dutch, English, and French lyrics [1]. Tracks like “Ceci N’est Pas un Cliché” are characterized by powerful basslines designed to ignite a dancefloor response [1].

Themes and Lyrical Content

Beyond its danceable rhythms, Topical Dancer tackles complex social and political issues. The album directly addresses experiences of racial discrimination and sexual abuse [1].

“Blenda” confronts prejudice with the poignant lyrics, “Go back to your country, where you belong. Siri, can you tell me where I belong?” [1]. “Esperanto” employs witty wordplay to challenge problematic statements, offering alternative responses to prejudiced remarks [1]. The track features lines like, “Don’t say ‘But I’m allowed to say that because I grew up in a black neighbourhood’, Say ‘My n……eighbour’”, and “Don’t say ‘White people can’t dance’, Say ‘Tom marches to the beat of a different drum’”.

Key Tracks and Album Structure

The album opens with “Bel DEEWEE,” a field recording capturing Adigéry’s entry into the Deewee recording complex [3]. Other notable tracks include “Thank You” and “Haha,” the latter featuring nearly four minutes of Adigéry’s laughter, punctuated by the observation, “Guess you had to be there” [1]. The album’s tracklist includes: “Bel DEEWEE”, “Esperanto”, “Blenda”, “Hey”, “It Hit Me” [3].

Release and Reception

Topical Dancer was released on March 4, 2022 [1]. Singles released prior to the album included “Thank You” (September 22, 2021), “Blenda” (November 3, 2021), “Haha” (December 1, 2021), “Ceci n’est pas un cliché” (January 27, 2022), and “Making Sense Stop” (March 3, 2022) [1]. The album is available on streaming platforms like Spotify [2] and Bandcamp [3].