"Pendulum" is a song by English singer

FKA Twigs Tahliah Debrett Barnett (born 16 January 1988), known professionally as FKA Twigs (stylized as FKA twigs), is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and dancer. She was a backup dancer for numerous musicians, and made her musica ...

from her debut studio album, '' LP1'' (2014). The song was released digitally on 30 July 2014 as the album's second single. It was also released on 12-inch vinyl the day before, serving as the B-side to " Two Weeks". "Pendulum" premiered on

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show on 29 July 2014. Upon its premiere, Twigs referred to the track as "one of my favourite songs on my record."

Critical reception

Upon its release, "Pendulum" received acclaim from music critics, who noted its complex production and Twigs's vocals. Patric Fallon of

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selected it as "Best New Track", writing that " t since last year's bewitching 'Water Me' ..has the London singer released a single as dedicated to nuance and will-o'-the-wisp sublimity as ..'Pendulum'." However, Fallon also noted the differences between the two tracks, stating: "Where 'Water Me' and 'Pendulum' diverge in their style and substance is in the latter's resounding chorus and bridge, when the music's detached and capricious elements finally converge into a hook that plays like a hymn to the patron saint of melancholic desire." Brenna Ehrlich of

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called the track "a spare kind of thing hung with pattering drums—laid over a deeper, thrumming heartbeat—and laced with her ethereal, overlapping vocals." Chris Coplan of

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was also laudatory, commenting: "Even as the somewhat jarring sounds threaten to consume every drop of your attention, it's damn near impossible to avoid the emotional spell Twigs weaves with each and every revelatory note."

Music video

The music video for "Pendulum" was directed by FKA Twigs herself and premiered on 14 January 2015. A photo from the video set was first released on 29 July 2014, which depicts FKA Twigs hanging from the ceiling by her hair. A second photo from the set was posted to FKA Twigs'

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page on 6 October 2014. The video won a MOBO Award for Best Video on 4 November 2015, while earning FKA Twigs a nomination for Artist to Watch at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards.

Track listings

*;Digital download #"Pendulum" – 4:58 *;Limited edition 12" single :A. " Two Weeks" – 4:08 :B. "Pendulum" – 4:58

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of '' LP1''. *

– vocals, drums, keyboards, production, songwriting * Cy An – additional drum edits, keyboards * John Davis – mastering *

Paul Epworth Paul Richard Epworth (born 25 July 1974) is an English record producer, songwriter, musician, and remixer. He has worked with artists including Adele, Florence and the Machine, Rihanna, and Maxïmo Park, among many others. He is a member of th ...

– drums, guitar, keyboards, piano, production, songwriting * Joseph Hartwell Jones – engineering

Release history

References

{{Authority control 2014 singles 2014 songs Song recordings produced by Paul Epworth Songs about loneliness Songs written by Paul Epworth FKA Twigs songs Young (record label) singles Songs written by FKA Twigs