Heaven Knows: PinkPantheress Explores Heartbreak with Avant-Garde Elegance

In her much-anticipated debut album, “Heaven knows,” PinkPantheress crafts a Shakespearean tragedy delving into themes of death, lost love, and unrequited affection. The album retains her signature avant-garde synths, electronic dance, and percussion beats, providing a glossy backdrop to lyrics exploring the depths of heartbreak. Drawing inspiration from genres such as Hip Hop, R&B, Jersey club, 80s UK pop, and classical music, PinkPantheress constructs ambient landscapes that immerse listeners in glittering atmospheres and emotional turmoil.

The opening track, “Another life,” featuring Rema, establishes a somber atmosphere with a spooky organ, later transitioning into a brisk UK break beat. The lyrics touch on profound love and the haunting image of waking up beside a lifeless body, delving into the darker facets of navigating through heartbreak. Similarly, “Ophelia” employs a flickering harp and slow percussion, creating an ethereal woodland ambiance with lyrics oscillating between themes of homicide and heartbreak. On “Capable of love,” PinkPantheress delivers poignant laments about heartbreak, exhibiting a cutting directness that resonates with listeners’ personal experiences. The track “Mosquito” introduces an acoustic guitar, layered with bass and snare beats, conveying a sense of hope amid themes of anxious attachment and obsession. “Feelings” hints at deeper insecurities, contributing to the enigmatic aura surrounding the artist.

PinkPantheress, known for her mysterious persona, openly acknowledges her shyness and insecurities in her music. The album mirrors her ability to romanticize themes that society might label as toxic, offering a glimpse into the complexities of modern dating. While the collaboration with Kelela on “Bury Me” falls short of expectations, lacking the grandeur anticipated from such a pairing, certain tracks like “The aisle,” “Internet baby,” and “Blue” feel like fillers with catchy melodies but limited substance. “Heaven knows” exhibits PinkPantheress’s distinctive style without necessarily pushing her creative boundaries. Although it may not propel her to new heights, the album, characterized by angelic vocals and relatable awkwardness, remains a poetic and dramatic compilation of breakup songs that will leave listeners dancing while yearning for a toxic ex.