Pale Waves – Smitten

Pale Waves’ latest release, Smitten, is a record full of allusions to falling fast and hard in love, with affections so overwhelming they lead to hasty decisions and actions. The album explores the idea of temporary romance, highlighting how these fleeting flings can take over and leave a lasting impact on the people involved. There’s a strong coming-of-age hook to the music and production choices, which pair well with lead singer Heather Baron-Gracie’s trial-and-error take on love, particularly as she dives deep into the experience of being a teenager and having early queer relationships.

Baron-Gracie’s writing is highly immersive, often personifying romance through specific locations. This is evident in the opening song Glasgow, as well as in tracks like Gravity and Kiss Me Again. Whether it’s the cold grey skies of the Scottish city, a flower-filled garden or a room full of strangers, the album vividly brings these different stories to life. The lyric “She’s pulling me like gravity / Everywhere she goes” in Gravity, asserts that, despite the distance and differences between her and her partner, there’s always something pulling them towards each other. Kiss Me Again takes this idea one step further, focusing on the desperation for touch and intimacy, and the instant gratification of being constantly in this one person’s presence. Yet, the lyrics maintain a sense of self-awareness that there’s no permanence in such relationships: “It’s a temporary love exchange.”

Smitten doesn’t just focus on the passionate and spontaneous excitement of young love; it also explores themes of anxiety and uncertainty, particularly in the context of queer relationships. Not a Love Song and Last Train Home highlight the secrecy that sometimes come with being part of the LGBTQ+ community. Not a Love Song has a steady rhythm and vindictive lyricism that ruminates over an ex who insisted on keeping their relationship a secret. Although the melody is light, there’s a sense of longing in Baron-Gracie’s delivery, reminding listeners that, even with cutting and bitter words, she still feels regret and deep sadness. Last Train Home, slower than most of the other tracks, presents a more accepting outlook on a break-up, with echoes of “home” emphasising her former lover as a temporary presence who was never truly “home”.

Slow closes the record, serving as a fitting end to a journey that depicts the highs and lows of temporary romance. It sets the tone for something more hopeful compared to the failed nature of all the other love stories outlined by the previous tracks. A true learning experience, Slow sees Baron-Gracie’s growth through multiple attempts at love and a series of whirlwind romances. Here, she’s ready to embrace something slower and more chaste – a patient and more understanding type of love. She asserts to her now-lover, “I want you right now but it’s better if we take it slow,” ending the album in a peaceful and cathartic full circle.

Mae Trumata
Image: Niall Lea

Smitten is released on 27^th September 2024. For further information or to order the album visit Pale Waves’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Glasgow here: