The eponymous debut EP from Philadelphia-based artist Beatrice Blink spans from dreamy rock to hyper-pop inclinations, thoroughly succeeding in its atmospheric, melodic songwriting. Written following the end of a “nebulous seven-year friendship-or-relationship,” themes resonate amidst introspections on memory, reality, and the complexities of personal relationships. Beatrice Blink’s brother, Charlie Stewart, produced the EP — engaging consistently throughout.
Lead single “wake up, so long” compels in its dreamy aesthetical glow and yearning vocal reflections. Described by the artist as “about a homoerotic friendship and the nature of reality and memory,” the track builds with commanding momentum as whirring guitars, mellow keys, and steady percussion assembles into a captivating vocal presence. Acoustic strums and hazy organs play alongside, as the lyrics exude a past-tense memory — “it was all a dream,” — with a fondness for past affections and the warmness of daydreaming within memories.
Presenting as “a queer retelling of the myth of Narcissus combined with the trope of a mirage in the desert,” “mirage” is another standout track. Descriptive lyrics emit visions and sensations of a heatwave, again referencing dreams — though here in a “bad dream,” context prior to a soaring vocal ascension. “I wake up before I could say I love you,” they continue, complemented by various vocal layers, and looking toward a hopeful horizon within the hypnotic guitar crawls and float-y synth injections.
Closing the EP, “life cycle” emphasizes a twinkling electronic intrigue as Beatrice Blink’s vocals attain a spine-tingling spaciousness. The stutter-y vocal effect during the central chorus embraces a glitchy pop realm, traversing cohesively from the dream-pop electronics into a hyper-pop charisma. Beatrice Blink captivates with melodic songwriting, consuming soundscapes, and personable lyrical prowess across this memorable EP.
