Full Review

Birdy, Portraits Review

Birdy’s Portraits: A Changing Palette in a Neon Frame

Portraits, the new artistic offering from the UK’s multi-platinum singer-songwriter Birdy, is an album rich in emotional complexity and musical evolution. This is a journey into an artist’s creative mind who has confidently embraced her authentic voice but surrounded it with neon.

“Raincatchers,” an 80s alt-pop gem, is a fun listen as Birdy’s ingenious musical exploration draws inspiration from the iconic Kate Bush. The track echoes the up-tempo, electronic vibe found in Bush’s revolutionary hits like “Running Up That Hill” and “Babooshka.” But “Raincatchers” is more than an homage; it’s a fusion of past and present.

In “Paradise Calling,” Birdy crafts a diverse musical landscape that bridges generations, but does it feel fresh and timeless? The warmth and personality of her singing sonics and the off-kilter production flourishes play a role here. Coupled with her delicate yet powerful vocal delivery, these elements weave together an immersive experience, drawing listeners into Birdy’s multifaceted world with a magnetic pull.

The interplay of memory and the present forms the album’s core themes. Songs like “Ruins II” reveal a more personal and hopeful perspective compared to its prequel, “Ruins I,” reflecting an artist growing both in her craft and her own personal narrative. “Automatic” adds a new layer to Birdy’s vocal repertoire, with a hint more vibrato, exploring the uncertain dance of love and fear.

You know, music is this ever-changing landscape—sometimes, artists hit a fork in the road and go down a path that has us scratching our heads, right? I’ve been vibing with Birdy’s work for a while, enchanted by her chamber pop and folk nuances. It’s like walking through a magical forest where every song is a new wonder—a waterfall here, an ancient tree there. But her latest venture, Portraits, has me feeling some type of way.

First off, let’s break down what made Birdy’s earlier work special: her songwriting. It wasn’t just good; it was an exploration of emotion, woven with threads of mature themes and intricate melodies. You felt like you were reading pages torn from a secret diary, glimpses into a soul’s innermost fears and desires.

Now, enter Portraits. While the album sports a fresh coat of paint with its synthpop and alt-pop leanings, I can’t help but feel like she’s watering down her own rich colors. It’s like trading in a grand piano for a keyboard with preset beats—you gain some flash, but lose the organic texture that made you fall in love in the first place. I mean, props for trying to stretch those musical limbs, girl, but this new genre switcheroo doesn’t gel with her lyrical depth or vocal hues. It’s akin to making a flamenco dancer shuffle to a techno beat; it’s not bad, but it’s not quite right either.

The shift from her signature chamber pop and folk to the more trending realms of synthpop and alt-pop feels like she’s hopping on a bandwagon rather than boarding her own unique train. And hey, I’m all about evolution, but the question is: are you evolving into a more authentic version of yourself, or are you shape-shifting to fit into someone else’s mold?

In essence, Portraits feels like a beautiful landscape painting that got overlaid with neon graffiti; it’s captivating in its own right, but it loses the depth and nuance of the original work. And that, my friends, is a bit of a musical tragedy for someone as talented as Birdy. That’s the short of it!