8/10

Throughout her earliest beginnings, Beabadoobee had built up a reputation for fresh and inventive bedroom-pop ditties, spread amongst a flurry of impactful EPs in her teenage years. The arrival of her debut LP 'Fake It Flowers' in 2020 saw her emerge from the outer peripheries of the pop-rock scene to become the darling child of future mainstream pop. But now twenty-two years old, she feels far more reassured within her newfound fame as she returns to deliver her easygoing sophomore studio album 'Beatopia', a record that sees her continue to shine harder than most.

While the sonic appeal of 'Beatopia' remains very much in the same vein as 'Fake It Flowers', her general demeanour and approach to songwriting feels far more effortless this time around. Each song is embroiled in a warm and effervescent atmosphere that opens her up to these wonderfully bright and absorbing textures, giving us this incredibly alluring and engaging listen throughout. And while it may not have the same instant grab-factor her previous outing possessed, she still manages to create a beautifully loveable and compelling array of delights once again.

Beabadoobee is quickly growing into one of those artists that feels too good to be true. While the buzz and acclaim is one thing, the overall joy that 'Beatopia' is to listen to really resonates with her general presence and persona on here, showcasing her as an act that is always looking to find the most distinctive yet uplifting direction possible.