beabadoobee’s third studio album dropping 9th August 2024, This Is How Tomorrow Moves, proves her ability to keep up with the changing landscape of the indie music scene.
beabadoobee is no stranger to the craft of lyricism, evidenced by past songs like ‘Space Cadet’ featuring lyrics like “Through the Milky Way, past the morning sun / Pluto is light years away, and all our worries, they’re all gone”, and This Is How Tomorrow Moves captures that skill and magnifies it.
Opening with the single, ‘Take A Bite’, she proves that there is no ceiling that her songwriting can hit. The impressive lyrics give voice to the parts of us that constantly question. The verse “It gets harder to breathe / But I take it and I want it and I love when it bleeds / ‘Cause I’m craving expectations / That are unattainable temptations / I guess I’ll just take the hit” articulates a sense of confusion and subsequent indifference. The guitars are clean, a diversion from the usual hazy soundscapes in her songs. It’s an excellent artistic choice that allows her vocals to shine through.
‘California’ is a reflection on journeys, both physical and internal. Lyrics such as “Spending too much time out in California / and for all this time I’ve been waiting for ya / Won’t you call me a cab so I can finally get back” and “Wish you could see it’s been a rough ride / I swear I tried” make parallels between longing to be elsewhere and wanting to move on from the past, making the song rich in meaning. The repetition of the lyrics “They’ll never know” against a backdrop of crunchy guitar riffs elicits a euphoric feeling, almost like an affirmation.
‘Girl Song’ is the longest on the album and opens with a mellow piano phrase, it tells of the difficulty of being a girl. The lines “All I wanna do is find the words to make it up to you / making all the same mistakes, I guess there’s still a lot to prove” are simple, yet impactful. The lyrics “Day like no other / and just another bad day” are a recurring motif in the song. Coupled with intricate piano melodies, it shows beabadoobee’s versatility and ability to write a relatable and comforting ballad.
This is followed by ‘Coming Home’, which utilises her signature hushed vocals accompanied by a catchy guitar riff. The harmonies on the chorus elevate the song. Beyond this, it shows that she can go back to her roots as an artist, and still introduce it in a way that feels new every time.
‘Ever Seen’ has ethereal guitar melodies blended with punchy percussions. The dynamics on the track made what would have been a good song great, showing how multiple layers of sound are a hallmark of what makes beabadoobee’s music truly hers. What’s noteworthy about this song is its ability to hold back on the musical effects to pave way for the lyrics to take centre stage, in contrast to the other explosive sections that have more washed out vocals that it melts into the instrumentation seamlessly.
‘A Cruel Affair’ shows that it’s possible to draw influence from other genres that are vastly different. The percussion and phrasing are akin to that of a bossa nova song, with light feathery vocals to match. The sustained guitar notes are a minimal embellishment that makes the song memorable.
The feat of keeping listeners engaged throughout a long album is one beabadoobee has cleared, as the album maintains consistency until the end. ‘The Man Who Left Too Soon’ is similar to her 2023 release ‘the way things go’, reintroducing listeners to a familiar sound. With the heartening lyric “At least we look at the same moon”, it fondly recalls the past. Ending with ‘This Is How It Went’, the song is a culmination of everything enjoyable about the album: charming, dreamy vocals, masterful layering, and a tasteful use of effects.
As a whole, the album is a melting pot of genres, telling of beabadoobee’s ability to not just weave influence into her music, but also reimagine it entirely. More than that, it includes the signature elements that make her music distinct. This is a fantastic example for what a lot of modern musicians should strive for: An authentic, honest, and creative exposition of ideas that has not lost touch with the core of one’s artistry.
This Is How Tomorrow Moves is a thoughtfully-crafted album filled with impressionable meditations on loving and being. It shows that it is possible to see crystal-clear through another bad day, proven by beabadoobee’s clear articulation of feelings that are typically uncomfortable to grapple with. Featuring a rich sound palette, accompanied by an equally vivid spectrum of themes of romance and self-discovery, the album is a tribute to beabadoobee’s past, and symbolic of her openness to the future, pinpointing the way tomorrow moves.
Words by Marinel Dizon
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