Flora Cash seems dead set on making a statement with their new album, Behind Every Beautiful Thing. I don’t mean this in terms of selling albums, or being the next big household band. They have a strong commitment to their artistic vision, and are sticking to it.
And it’s really demanding on the listener. This collection is full of somber, melancholy tracks that frankly, can be quite confusing without trying to understand it.
Take for example the track My Ex Would’ve Left By Now. The song’s lyrics would seem to be a celebration of a significant other who has, despite strong disappointments in the relationship, has stuck with their partner for years, committed to a relationship driven by love and loyalty.
However, the music is straight melancholy. At no point does it change to a more positive or uplifting key, that you would think would align more with the grateful happiness evoked by the lyrics. In fact, at the end, the vocals scream “But I’m sure ??? would’ve left by now.” It’s an odd outburst that almost begs the question: Do they wish they would’ve left by now?
This isn’t the only point in the album where I was a bit confused. The last track, The Builder, similarly had me wondering: Why choose to reflect the life of a carpenter with such sad music? Is the mindset of such a skilled worker, owning what many would consider a fulfilling occupation, accurately depicted here?
But that’s the thing. The music, the album, is really well put together. When something is so well organized, produced, and performed, I find it hard, and frankly unfair, not to ask: What’s the purpose? If it’s not the party, if it’s not album sales, and if this group clearly knows what they are doing, then what are they trying to capture here?
So I poked around the tracks. I listened to each again, searching for answers.
In Holy Water, again the lyrics are such a celebration backed with somber, melancholy sounds. Much of this track is focused on close, intimate relationships, and the effects they have. And the main question: Is it worth it? Based on the track I’m Tired the answer is no. But in context of the album, the answer’s less clear. Baby I Love You seems to argue yes.
So what I discovered, by listening intently and with curiosity, is that there are a lot of complicated emotions and situations being presented in this work. And it’s not really presenting any answers or proposing any solutions.
What I think Flora Cash is saying is this: Life is complicated. Relationships are complicated. And so are people. Is there beauty in that? Is there beauty in the fact that even though life’s full of pain and inadequacy, can we still justify existence? That even in the face of tremendous uncertainty, there is hope? Driven, perhaps, by love, in spite of the mundane?
Look, this is a beautiful album, start to finish. And perhaps the melancholy and somberness of the music is the source. But it’s also complicated. In order to appreciate it, you’ll really need to take a deep dive into what vulnerabilities you have as a person, and be able to consider life at a metaphysical level. And I think that’s an album worth giving some attention to.
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About the Author
Music fan since circa 2017. Couple of degrees from The University of Virginia. Got a band too! But I’m not here to talk about that. I’m here to help you find your next favorite tracks and albums. Check out my articles if you need a quick pitch.
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