Back in 2013, The Preatures went from being a little-known act from Sydney to one of the country’s most acclaimed bands. With fame comes an entirely new life, the band’s sophomore album Girlhood grappling with this adjustment to the limelight, made all the more poignant by its feminine lens.
Straight out of the cannon is title track Girlhood, lead singer Isabella Manfredi describing her yearning for acceptance as a woman as the musical backing transforms the song into a blazing anthem. The First Night wears its romantic sentiment on its sleeve, the song chronicling feelings of attraction and intrigue as sparkling synths echo the sentiments of the lyrics.
Cherry Ripe is another candid track about stardom, Manfredi’s voice lustrous as she sings of the late nights and the physical toll of the lifestyle. The buoyant Lip Balm stylistically sounds like an indie pop number from the ‘90s, while the easy pace of closing track Something New brings the evocative Italian language to the fore.
The Preatures channel their musical strengths into intoxicating melodic moments that show off their versatility. The female-lead music revolution is here, and if you’re not on board, the band are here to convince you otherwise.
