Billie Eilish - 'Happier Than Ever'

7/10

In 2019, there wasn't a day that would go by that we weren't reminded of Billie Eilish and her music. The dark and disturbing world that she had built for herself struck a strong chord with the youth that year, giving her an instantly engaged audience that saw her grow into the biggest artist of that year and possibly the decade before it. But with her debut effort 'WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?' such an enormous success, how on earth do you follow it up? With 'Happier Than Ever' we see her in a more matured light that is more interested in building a legacy than simply regurgitating the past.

From the very start, 'Happier Than Ever' sets itself worlds apart from her debut full-length. Gone are the bold and bouncing basslines and toe-tapping rhythms as she attempts to create a more heartfelt and sombre moods through a lens of sweeping yet still haunting compositions. In all, it feels like this is the aftermath to one of the biggest parties in the world. With the fanfare and explosive attitude of her infancy left behind, she is now in a more contemplative mood as she looks to work through the emotions and struggles that enormous fame has given her, creating a sometimes less than exciting return.

Fans of Billie Eilish will probably be in two minds about this new collection. While it still has plenty of inventive moments and speaks to her darker sides at times, it lacks that sheer and vibrant intensity that many loved her for to begin with, something that sees her step away from her distinctive direction in search of something a little more day-to-day than we originally thought.

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