Instantly transported into a late '90s romantic drama, the angsty Care sets a boldly honest tone as the opening track for Beabadoobee’s debut album Fake It Flowers. The blend of sweet pop vocal tones with grungy alt-rock assertiveness is punchy, powerful and raw, as the line, “Fuck me only when I’m keen/ Not according to your beer” shows Beabadoobee (full name Beatrice Laus, but affectionately known as Bea) is taking control into her own hands within Dye It Red’s swirling guitars, giving off a style reminiscent of The Cranberries.
Things get dark during Charlie Brown, a song about Laus’ struggle with self-harm, with its chorus a chaotic crash of noise as “Throw it away” is belted in a voice-crackling scream. Fake It Flowers is all about honesty, and confessional tracks Emo Song and Sorry rip apart the heart, slowed down in an atmospheric universe drenched in reverb and strings - her heart is out and bleeding in her hands. No matter whether it’s a soft ballad or ripping rock track, Laus’ voice is transfixing and enticing to listen to and could never be pigeonholed towards a specific sound.
From the dreamy space world of Further Away to the imperfect recording of the reminiscing How Was Your Day? (recorded outside on a cassette player), this album is real, raw, and true, demonstrating just how far Beabadoobee has come not only as an artist, but internally too, with personal growth and evolution.
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