Who knew that Beabadobee and a pylon would be a perfect pair? Released on Sept. 18, “Pylon”, Beabadobee’s (Beatrice Laus) fourth studio album, shifts away from her signature lo-fi bedroom pop into a grittier alternative rock and grunge. Anyone expecting her fourth studio album to wander down the same pipeline as “This is How Tomorrow Moves” is greatly mistaken.
This album evokes feelings of homesickness, post-adolescent anxiety, and the emotional weight of being on tour.
Laus opens the album with a song called “Pylon,” a gentle melancholic song that reflects distance, and longing for her partner while on tour. The song begins with muffled, faint, and soft vocals, gradually building to an alternative rock sound featuring fuzzy guitars and roaring drums. She has lyrics stating, “And when I’m somewhere / At least we’re connected / Like a pylon on an open road.” This is a direct metaphor, where Laus uses electrical towers to resemble connection across long physical distances.
“Sun Has Set”, Lau’s lead single, serves as one of the album’s most aggressive, high-intensity cuts. It has high-velocity drums, and an angry vocal delivery. It describe a messy breakup and frustrating lack of closure. Laus uses the aggression and intense feeling the song illuminates to translate similar feelings.
The following two tracks, “Estranged” and “Switchblade,” function as a loud-quiet-loud climax and display the emotional progression from internal alienation to outward hostility. “Estranged” captures the vulnerability of emotional drift and communication barriers within a partnership. Meanwhile, “Switchblade” acts as a direct reaction to the isolation experienced.
“Write Me A Letter,”co-produced by the 1975’s Matt Healy and George Daniel, this standout track gives the listener a glimpse at Lau’s talent of describing the complex and unspoken vulnerabilities one may feel. The nostalgic sentiments capture the fleeting idea of how communication is slowly changing, making the listener feel the modern communication barriers.
“It’s Alright” is heavily centered around the modern anxieties of situationships. This track steps away from the heavy distortion to a more relaxed, and smooth groove.
The following two tracks, “In Motion” and “Memories” are held together by their sequence. “In Motion” is a breakdown of Lau’s emotions, with an angry, distorted chorus before transitioning into an echoing piano outro, leading to “Memories”. Lyrically, the transition highlights the pivot from present to past. “In Motion” photographs the literal toll of travel, isolation, and the strain of distnce in a relationship.
“Nothing to Prove”, is a massive, stadium-sized alternative anthem, featuring grappling, roaring vocal harmonies between Laus and Paramore’s Hayley Williams. “Radio” is a sarcastic track, utilizing a noticeable, “loud-quiet-loud” structure, pitching a distorted guitar riff over a heavy amplifier fuzz. This track acts as a critique of the commercial music industry.
“Powerlines,” is a beautiful alt-rock duet featuring Turnstile’s Brendan Yates, creating the perfect balance of male and female harmonization throughout the song. Laus uses this idea of powerlines and pylons to explore missing someone from afar.
“Spark” is a brilliant breathy feel in the latter half of the album. It focuses on the fragile and exciting moment of a creative or emotional rebirth.It proves that recovery is a quiet and fragile spark rather than a huge explosion.
The next track, “Despite That” is a shorter one. It displays a dreamy, delicate acoustic sound that transition into the final song of the album.
The album ends with “Satellite.” It’s a near five-minute progressive epic, closing the album on a raw and authentic note, featuring background textures from Deftones frontman, Chino Moreno. It features Laus screeching like a hardcore punk star, using her voice to overpower the heavy wave of distortion.
“Pylon” is a masterpiece of twentysomething chaos, highlighting one’s deepest anxieties and turning them into a massive global enterprise. It’s a must-listen for anyone who appreciates Lau’s craft.
