Acoustic guitar is more commonplace on Beatopia than electric, and although a couple more upbeat songs here wouldn’t go amiss, there’s plenty of endearing balladry here. The delicate Lovesong offers a lovely sense of intimacy, while Ripples takes a more elegant approach with its soft acoustic chords bolstered by violins.
In the wrong hands, an album like Beatopia that’s less reliant on catchy hooks could drag, but it never feels too dense or depressing, even if it does demand a few listens in order to be properly digested. The sheer range of sounds attempted here is impressive in itself, and beabadoobee could go down any of these avenues that she’s opened up for herself that she pleases.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: The 1975, Phoebe Bridgers, mxmtoon
Beatopia is out now via Dirty Hit