Beatopia is a lovely transition from Beabadoobee’s debut album. IMO it bridges Fake It Flowers, a raw, beautiful and distinctively teenage burst of emotion, and, TIHTM which leans into the same powerful introspection yet approached by a matured Bea.
Beatopia draws upon a range of stylistic influences and expands her sonic palette significantly, weaving in electronic sounds, midwest emo, string arrangements and her 90s-inspired pop punk roots - which is excellently done. The lyricism is esoteric at times, but with the right amount of analysis, you’ll find they signal the release of adult emotions portrayed with a filter of childhood whimsy.
The production is excellent and the range in genre only adds to the weight of emotional release. Bea’s airy, bright voice remains constant yet versatile - seeming to perfectly glide over the array of musical arrangements.
Holistically, all these elements suit the thematic fantasy world Bea has created and the unpredictability of the album itself; giving listeners an intimate glimpse into an imaginary world, sonically unfolding in front of them.
