‘The Whole Damn Cake’ is the long awaited sophomore record from Beauty Sleep’s Cheylene Murphy and Ryan McGroarty. Crafted over a period of six years it finds the alt-pop duo on a whirlwind journey of reflection and discovery.
Built around a commitment to a state of mind dubbed by the pair as “Radical Happiness” – in essence being so positive that you enact change. The record is the purest realisation to date of their ability to craft dazzling and bold pop songs that also convey intelligence and nuance.
‘You – You’re All I Wanted’ is an early shot of euphoric pop that finds the band at the peak of their powers. McGroarty & Murphy share vocals while sonically we’re left to drift among the clouds. ‘BIG + BAD’ dispenses with any notions of shyness and with a swaggering powerhouse of shimmering pop.
The half way point throws up the only slight misstep on the record as the overly auto-tuned vocal delivery on ‘Unfamiliar’ feels harsh in contrast to the lighter and often airy delivery elsewhere.
Thankfully it doesn’t take the duo long to find their groove again. Described as their “anthem for proving people wrong”, ‘No Fever Ever Lasts’ is the dark horse of the album. It delivers up a scintillating guitar line shakes up the synth pop led formula to date.
In contrast, the track that follows feels more melancholic; ‘Send It Out to Sea’ offers up a darker moment with its focus on confronting and processing your deepest thoughts and secrets. Closer ‘Take a Look Back’ lifts the tone again with dynamic drumming and distinctive riffs that carries shades of early Two Door Cinema Club across it.
Compared to their debut record, The Whole Damn Cake feels like a truer reflection of the individuals and personalities that make up Beauty Sleep. There is more emotion, more openness and a feeling that they are no longer afraid to be themselves. The best music doesn’t come from sterile rooms or joyless perfectionism — it comes from love, energy, and passion. The Whole Damn Cake has all three in abundance, and it shows.
