Ware's Disco Tips into Literalism

TL;DR

Superbloom Review: Pitchfork rates Jessie Ware's sixth album 6.3, calling it the end of her disco trilogy that tips into overly literal polyester production.
Chaste Disco Themes: Lyrics stay PG-rated on erotic fantasies like arms and touch, despite inspirations from Gillian Anderson's Want and Nancy Friday's My Secret Garden.
Standout Tracks: "Ride" brilliantly flips Ennio Morricone into cheesy Italo disco, while "Sauna" vamps over a Moroder beat amid mostly rigid, witless songs.

The story at a glance

Pitchfork reviewer Harry Tafoya critiques Jessie Ware's Superbloom as her disco era's disappointing close, overly chaste and literal despite aiming for erotic fantasy. Ware, who pivoted from sophisti-pop after a disastrous 2018 Coachella set, delivers a third dance album that's more composed host than messy partygoer. This review arrives alongside the album's release during Coachella's second weekend in 2026.

Key points

Ware's career shifted post-2018 Coachella flop, from mature ballads to nightclub urgency on What's Your Pleasure? and That! Feels Good!, forming a loose disco trilogy.
Superbloom draws from erotic fantasy books like Gillian Anderson's Want and Nancy Friday's My Secret Garden, but lyrics evoke tame acts like being held by arms or generic touch.
Production features florid daytime disco: fluttering flutes, burnished bass, soaring strings, yet feels punishingly exact and VIP-lounge like Studio 54.
Standouts include "Ride" (cheesy Italo disco from Ennio Morricone riff, Ware belting like a Valkyrie), "Sauna" (throbbing Moroder beat, bathhouse vibe), and "Mr Valentine" (insistent kick drum).
Weaknesses: chaste, disembodied writing lacks wit or kink; voice sounds less remarkable in rigid blueprints; "16 Summers" feels out of place as an introspective ballad.
Pitchfork score: 6.3; contrasts with Robyn's more nuanced club hits.

Details and context

Superbloom continues Ware's dancefloor pivot, where she soundtracked abandon in pearls and caftans but stayed poised, never fully messy like a true fantasy. The album's literal disco adherence—without contemporary riffs—makes songs like "Automatic" and "Mon Amour" cough on their own musk, burying her R&B pyrotechnics.

Her press tour addressed queer fans directly, denying the record targets only them amid perceptions of pandering through campy tracks like past "Beautiful People." Yet complex femininity eludes here, unlike her stronger arc on "Mirage (Don't Stop)" or "Overtime."

Tafoya sees this as the trilogy's dead end, urging Ware to mulch the dancefloor and start fresh after composed overstatement.

Key quotes

"Ride flips Ennio Morricone’s score from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly into brilliantly cheesy Italo disco, which Ware leverages to belt over the beat like a Valkyrie at the edge of the sexpocalypse. It’s in fabulous bad taste." – Harry Tafoya[[1]](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/jessie-ware-superbloom/)

"Sauna vamps over a throbbing Moroder beat to stake her claim to “Bathhouse” Bette Midler’s corner of the steam room (Jacuzzi Jessie?)." – Harry Tafoya[[1]](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/jessie-ware-superbloom/)

Why it matters

Superbloom signals potential fatigue in Ware's disco phase, highlighting tensions between retro purism and relatable sensuality in modern pop. Fans and queer audiences get a composed erotic fantasy that may feel too chaste or pandering, limiting broad dancefloor appeal. Watch Ware's next moves for a fresh start beyond literalism, though her pivot history suggests surprises.

FAQ

Q: What inspired Superbloom's themes?

A: The album draws from Gillian Anderson’s Want and Nancy Friday’s My Secret Garden to manifest Ware’s desires like instant connection and good sex. Lyrics stay PG-rated, focusing on arms holding or touch without deeper kink. Production aims for wallpaper-flowery disco but feels hesitant.

Q: Which tracks stand out on Superbloom?

A: "Ride" turns Ennio Morricone into cheesy Italo disco with Ware belting powerfully. "Sauna" delivers a throbbing Moroder beat for bathhouse vibes. "Mr Valentine" pushes forward motion via kick drum, though call-and-response vocals drag it down.

Q: How does Superbloom fit Ware's career?

A: It's her sixth album and third disco entry after What's Your Pleasure? and That! Feels Good!, post-2018 Coachella pivot from sophisti-pop. Reviewer sees it ending the trilogy fatally due to literalism. Earlier work was mature with West End drama and R&B vocals.

Q: Why the mixed Pitchfork score?

A: Tafoya praises lovely instrumentals and non-literal tracks but faults chaste lyrics, rigid production, and lack of wit. It tips purism into polyester literalism like a VIP airport lounge Studio 54. Score is 6.3 versus reader 7.3.