Think Florence and the Machine meets Hozier with Paris Paloma’s debut album, “Cacophony,” which was released on Aug. 30.
You may have heard of the Derbyshire, England, native from her single “Labour,” which was released in March of 2023 and quickly went viral on TikTok for its moving narrative about the contradictory roles appointed to women.
The album, “Cacophony,” gives snapshots into the mind of Paloma and offers poignant insights into how it feels to be a woman. Taking inspiration from Stephen Fry’s book, “Mythos,” the album’s title comes from the story of chaos and creation, with the idea of a noisy mind being a prevalent theme throughout the tracks.
The first track is titled “My Mind (Now)” and opens with the lyrics “What did I do wrong / Will you tell me what I did wrong” that follow Paloma through the song. It is a mix of brass, synthesizer and Paloma’s voice that introduce the theme of the album. The experimental elements of the track truly display the deeply introspective side of Paloma that contrasts sharply with the more confrontational and provocative moments that follow.
Following the opener is “Drywall,” a commentary on relationships with volatile men. The lines of the song nearly spell this out, “I used to think of him a caring thing, knuckles on his drywall / I’ve tried all of the parenting, descent into hysterically.”
This song pairs nearly perfectly with the following track, “Boys, Bugs and Men,” which discusses the commonly heard phrase “boys will be boys,” saying, “At the cutting of your tongue, all I hear is shredding wings / Before me is a man who cares not for little things.”
Both tracks are grounded in Paloma’s sharp, poignant lyricism and dark, atmospheric production, which evoke a haunting exploration of the female experience.
Down the line is the haunting and melancholic “Last Woman On Earth,” in which Paloma requests her body be left to nature with the lyrics, “Leave me to the beasts and bears, I’d rather that the feast was theirs” as well as “And they will come with such dismay / That they never did discover where I lay.”
The song is a plea from the singer that addresses the violence women face, even after death.
However, the track that put Paloma on the map is “Labour.” Since its release as a single in 2023, it has reached over 150 million plays on Spotify for its bold statements against the patriarchy and the unreachable expectations put upon women. The lines “All day, every day, therapist, mother, maid / Nymph, then a virgin, nurse, then a servant” have resonated deeply with listeners, encapsulating the emotional and physical toll of these conflicting roles.
“Cacophony” is a powerful debut that showcases Paloma’s talent for blending the complexities of modern womanhood with hauntingly beautiful melodies. From the visceral impact of “Labour,” to the more reflective moments in tracks such as “The Warmth,” Paloma solidifies her place as a bold, unapologetic voice in today’s music landscape.
For those interested in listening to the album, the link can be found here.
