Pale Waves' latest album leaves fans 'Smitten'

Manchester-based band Pale Waves, formed of Heather Baron-Gracie, Ciara Doran, Hugo Silvani and Charlie Wood, are back with their latest studio album, 'Smitten' and it is not one to miss.

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Pale Waves, shot by Kelsi Luck.

'Smitten', Pale Waves' fourth album, consists of a sound the band was born to create. The songs feel connected by emotions and their joint ability to create explorations of different moments within one lifetime, rather than entirely a thematic journey of present-day experiences. The act of glancing back to the past makes for an interesting and varied record. The opening track, 'Glasgow', embodies this idea of a journey through time immediately, narrating the rise and fall of a connection. It illustrates how fleeting a romantic affair can be when the fantasy can be taken away far too quickly. It sets the tone for the rest of the album, reflecting on momentary desire and how it shapes who you are, looking back on them with a new perspective. The chorus itself says 'When I left you in Glasgow / I remember crying all the way home / Yeah, I had to go and get myself out of there / Oh, 'cause there was nothing left'. This, paired with the verse admitting 'I love this city 'cause it's all or nothing' and 'I wondered if it was a mistake' just shows how the good and bad can come crashing together, eventually becoming destructive to the point of having to leave. It ultimately creates a great heartbreak anthem.

Photograph via Rolling Stone (Kelsi Luck)

'Not A Love Song' feels like the alternative pop lover's answer to 'Good Luck, Babe!' by Chappell Roan. Sometimes there is simply an unspoken pleasure in telling somebody that romantic feelings never lie, no matter how much they attempt to bury them into the subconscious, they are obvious on the surface.

This track hits the mark entirely when unpacking how one can find a compatible connection with someone in so many ways, yet the individual fails to treat them as an option, even like a secret instead. Lyrics include 'I bet you're out at the bar and you're talking to boys / I bet I'm on your mind and you're getting annoyed'. It feels like a true, I told you so, moment: the memories can stick around and provide a source of regret, and the sound of somebody you love cannot escape your mind.

The band's lead singer, Heather Baron-Gracie, told Apple Music, 'This is a ‘fuck you’ song… I was the person that this person was willing to commit to and she adored me, but in front of everybody else I was a nobody.' The feelings of frustration within the track are palpable, yet one can confront the situation in an empowering manner as if to say, that this person will ultimately be the one to miss out on a great love.

The production and writing on 'Gravity' allows you to truly immerse yourself into the storytelling of Baron-Gracie and Silvani. The song works through the experience of falling in love with a woman constricted by the boundaries of her religion. It touches on a theme that while many can relate to, simultaneously it is rarely discussed or explored through music. Unpacking the song with Apple Music, the inclusion of the harmonies was to mimic 'something you would listen to in church'. Small details woven into the track make it feel so grand, yet allow Baron-Gracie's voice to act as an integral part, a powerful instrument. The inclusion of lyrics such as ‘I'll be anything, anyone / talking too much to Mary / now she wants ordinary’ captures the complete surrender to one you desire, broken by the bittersweet inevitability of how the situation will play out. The track emphasises the emotional battle, where nobody wins.

'Smitten' Promotional Photograph via Kelsi Luck

Lingering feelings seep into the next track, 'Thinking About You'. Hindsight offers perfect vision as one begins to question, whether more effort could have saved the relationship, or life ended up unfolding exactly as it was supposed to.

This is clear with lyrics like 'I learnt your body like it was my own' and 'and I wish we tried a little more'. Sometimes the end of a relationship forces you to rewind to the beginning and question the decisions made.

The repeated question, 'Do you think about me at all?' is a direct, haunting question to her ex-partner, embodying the painful uncertainty of moving on. It might feel better to never know the answer, but it doesn't remove the strain of longing for one.

This is one of the most true, and relatable, tracks on the album, as it points inwards to a place of loneliness and heartache over missed opportunities to save something that was once held so dear.

'Perfume' acts as a real turning point on the record. It captures the purest moments of infatuation, never wanting the all-consuming experience of falling in love to end. This explicitly queer love song highlights the steps music has taken in celebrating sexuality and relationships without a heterosexual focus. The openness and authenticity in the track's expression are powerful. The chorus simply stating ‘I wanna make you my girl’ is a simple but telling, grand gesture of love. The imagery of ‘Oh, laying in fields with you, please tell me that we can make this last forever’ is pure, and illustrates the idea of just wanting to experience a person in their entirety, to consume and be consumed by the pleasure of knowing someone deeper.

Pale Waves, shot by Kelsi Luck

This is an album that deserves to be celebrated. Each track that played made me pause and think, 'Wait, is this my favorite?' Every song is a strong contender, but this one undoubtedly stands out as one of the best. 'Kiss Me Again' allows the listener to let their hair down, dance, and experience the feelings it pours out of every lyric. Listening to this transports me to become a more free-spirit version of myself. There is a playful nature to this track, exploring the freedom of being with someone new. Lyrics like ‘yeah, it was short but, oh so sweet / One-time only company' and 'Let's be honest / It's going nowhere' reject a deeper analysis of the situation, or the what are we, instead, just enjoying the moment. This track also unlocked the sudden desire for the band to collaborate with both The 1975 and Towa Bird.

'Miss America' allows for a very introspective moment within the record, with lyrics like ‘high or low, or up and down’, and the bridge consisting of 'I’m no saint, I made mistakes / I wanna love her better now’, acting as a confession of the past treatment of a loved one. It feels like an understanding of how past actions can impact a relationship, and finding the maturity to learn lessons from the experience. These candid thoughts, contrasting with the upbeat and guitar-heavy production, make an interesting track to keep on repeat.

Smitten as a complete album feels entirely organic and full of liberation. It takes full ownership of being direct within songs, to call out the actions of both other people and self-made mistakes, or as a point-blank declaration of affection. It is an album packed with honesty and is a real standout release of 2024.

Please, if your name is Billie Eilish, consider booking Pale Waves as the opener for your upcoming UK tour. Many thanks.