Rachel Beck accomplishes a lot in a short amount of time on her latest offering, Stronger Than You Know. She tackles womanhood, strength, tragedy, love – all tied up in a sleek, gossamer package.
The production on this album takes it into another world. There’s a glossy veil draped over its entirety, with pristine, muted vocals and shimmering instrumentals. This is apparent right from the empowering opening track, “Warrior.” The poetry of the lyrics, the glitter of the harp, Beck’s ethereal vocals – the track would fit nicely into the tracklist of Florence + the Machine’s 2009 album Lungs.
Beck often toes the line between fragility and strength on this album, suggesting perhaps that the two concepts go hand in hand. In “Stronger Than You Know”, she calls on imagery from nature and its femininity for words of healing and empowerment. This femininity that she focuses on is important – the strength she finds in it is showcased in “Warrior” as well.
While strength is definitely a pillar of the record, Beck also excels at vulnerability. “Things I Should Keep” documents Beck’s dealings with self-sabotage and insecurity in a less than ideal relationship. “You think you want me, I think you’re crazy,” Beck sings over crisp melodies and dramatic arrangements.
“Tonight” is a heart-wrenching twist on the epic love story laid out in Adyn Townes’s “Churchill.” Beck shies away from the happy ending and instead explores the route where the two lovers – inspired by Townes’s grandparents – couldn’t be together. The sad swell of strings is a stark change from the euphoric vocals of the chorus in “Churchill”.
While Beck’s vocals and overall style works best with the more grandiose songs, there’s still something to be said for the dancier tracks. “At First Glance” is especially interesting. Beck’s low, sultry vocals open the track and pave the way for a more bluesy song, but it doesn’t take long for the synth to kick in and take it in a completely separate direction.
It’s an interesting combination that works surprisingly well. Though Beck’s strengths are displayed clearly on the more melodic and whimsical tracks, the fact that she can thrive otherwise is a testament to her versatility. If anything, that just adds to her proclamation of inner strength.