With Woman of Faces, Celeste departs from her now signature soul-pop style in favour of a far more symphonic sound. The album opens with “On With The Show”, a cinematic ballad that uses performance as a metaphor for keeping a stiff upper lip amidst adversity. Marching band-esque snare drums drive the track’s momentum forward, building in intensity as Celeste’s self-referential songwriting describes “the swell of strings, the choir in constant rage”, further contributing to its dramatics.
This theatrical feel dominates much of the album, brought to life by Grammy-award winning Jeff Bhasker and Beach Noise. Most tracks opt to not even use percussion, such as the string heavy “Keep Smiling”. Soft guitar plucks ripple underneath and subtly propel the track forward while soaring violins complement Celeste’s whispy vocals: “I forget what he did, turn the other cheek, and keep smiling”.
Woman of Faces is an album about a desire to persist through pain
Woman of Faces is an album about a desire to persist through pain, as Celeste grapples with feelings of heartbreak and confusions of identity. Its eponymous single serves as the epitome of this, speaking for women who may not feel seen and recognising patterns in herself “It’s a very fine line between her world and mine”. She ponders “Who really knows the woman of faces?... Not you, not me”, unable to identify herself amongst the many fronts she puts up. It’s intensely poignant, with a high vocal presence that makes for an intimate listening experience.
There’s a transparency to Celeste’s voice that makes every song seem precious and delicate, and despite the singer battling an inability to identify herself, Woman of Faces feels so deeply personal. “Sometimes” sees a continuation of the performance metaphor as Celeste reflects on her relationship struggles “sometimes I get all the signs, sometimes I forget my lines”. Soft, ethereal keyboard notes provide a sense of nostalgia to her reflection, but it’s her subtle whisper at the end of each line that carries the track’s emotional punch. It’s as if Celeste can barely bring herself to utter these words of reflection and “leave all these unsatisfied dreams unfed”.
My favourite moment on the album arrives at its midpoint with “Time Will Tell”: a moment of respite within the melancholy of Woman of Faces. The opening guitar is played with such incredible gentleness, almost lullaby-like in nature, as Celeste’s soft, breathy vocals describe her finding comfort in the certainty of fate “It’s hard to say ‘cause only time will tell, let’s keep it undecided until it reveals itself”. She moves into a sweeter, more soulful register as the strings swell and eventually crescendo in total harmony before dialling it back in for the finale. It has a vintage elegance that complements the timeless sentiment of leaving things up to destiny.
It has a vintage elegance that complements the timeless sentiment of leaving things up to destiny
The album’s closer, “This Is Who I Am” has been out for over a year now. But Woman of Faces provides the song with a fresh significance in the context of the record. It’s the most poised and structured song on the album: a clear sign of Celeste’s newfound confidence and certainty. It has that same progression and constant march of drums found on the opener, but whereas “On With The Show” displays performance as necessary, “This Is Who I Am” has no need for these facades. This is Celeste, “no lie, and no less”, and although we may not fully understand her, she accepts that not everyone needs to. She's done living purely to please others, affirming the track’s title on the outro. Not for anyone else, but for herself.
Celeste's 'Woman of Faces' is out now.