Beabadoobee – Space Cadet.
The 90s are back. Kind of. Beabadoobee is a sort-of solo project sort-of band fronted by Beatrice Kristi Laus. Bea wears her influences on her baggy sleeve with her lush signature mixture of 90s alternative music and more contemporary indie elements. This new release infuses some grungier aspects into her sound; a bit of grit that wasn’t prevalent on previous releases. It is amazing to see someone reinvigorating what is in my opinion one of if not the best era of music (90s alternative).
A step up.
This album is head and shoulders above Bea’s previous work. That is no insult to her previous releases; I am a fan of everything Beabadoobee has released since 2017, particularly her ‘Loveworm’ EP that also released earlier this year, but the bar is raised on all fronts for ‘Space Cadet’. The songs are written and performed in such a phenomenal fashion: that signature 90s “we don’t care” attitude drips from this release, like the messy guitar solo on ‘I Wish I Was Stephen Malkmus’ for example, but this relaxed approach never comes across as lazy. Because the production quality is so much higher than previous releases, the relaxed approach to performance just adds to the nostalgic sonic landscape that Bea creates. And the production. Oh my, the production. Just listen to the opening track ‘Are You Sure’ and you will understand my fondness of this album’s production. The band has only three members and yet they manage to create such a full and rich sound that is extremely impactful in this song (and others). The intro pulls no punches with its melancholic lyrics sombrely delivered by Bea and chorus that hits like a truck every time. And this is continuous in all the tracks.
This is an all-killer album. Each track hits the target it is aiming for with pinpoint accuracy; if a song is melancholic and slightly down beat, it pulls at your heart strings in such a very effective fashion. If a song is calm and cute like ‘She Plays Bass’, a big ol’ smile will undoubtedly form on your face during your listen. If a song hits a bit harder and is more grunge-inspired, like on the chorus of ‘I Wish I Was Stephen Malkmus’, you won’t be able to keep your head still. It’s a simple yet effective album that plays to the small and refined arsenal the band has perfectly.
My favourite track.
This was very hard to choose as two tracks come instantly to mind. I love ‘She Plays Bass’ for its bouncy indie guitar riff and laughable lyrics, the song is smile inducing. But my favourite track from this EP would have to be ‘Are You Sure’. I couldn’t imagine a better introduction to this album, it’s a perfect example of what the band is all about: It is simple, melancholic, grungy and evokes a level of nostalgia that is hard to achieve whilst still being original.
This album is awesome. It is refreshing, simple and easy to listen to. Listen to it yourself and allow the perfectly balanced mixture of classic and originality to wash over you. https://open.spotify.com/album/1R5kPLo5rJAgp161g5hOFQ?si=v0bTXH20SsSih19eA1ZfyQ
I will post my no. 1 album of the year on Sunday. People who know me may be able to work out what it will be, so stand by for my thoughts on it. I’m sure it’ll be very in-depth. Thanks for reading.
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