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Celeste's second album, Woman Of Faces, arrives as a polished, emotional document of personal crisis and subsequent resilience. Following her award-winning debut, this record trades some of the raw, throwback neo-soul for a lusher, more cinematic sweep, deeply informed by the breakdown of a romantic relationship. The album's central theme is the navigation of heartbreak, the effort to regain self-trust, and the slow, necessary process of re-evaluation.
The sonic backdrop is defined by gorgeous, old Hollywood-style string arrangements and rich orchestral flourishes, particularly on the title track. This grand production serves as an elegant contrast to the intimate, almost haunting vulnerability in Celeste's voice, which possesses a treacly rasp that evokes a modern torch singer tradition. Tracks like the opening, piano-led ballad "On With The Show," immediately showcase this duality, pouring out sorrow while echoing with determined strength.
While some of the production leans toward polished, radio-friendly pop, the emotional weight remains undeniable. "Keep Smiling" is a soul-baring moment that exposes the pressures of forced optimism, and the piano-soaked "People Always Change" finds Celeste in a reflective, fragile state, lamenting the inertia of personal stagnation. Producers like Jeff Bhasker ensure the sound is pristine and commercially appealing. Ultimately, Woman Of Faces is a captivating and distinctive step forward, a sound of an artist closing a turbulent chapter and confidently heralding a future defined by her own terms.
Tracklist
1. On With The Show
2. Keep Smiling
3. Woman of Faces
4. Happening Again
5. Time Will Tell
6. People Always Change
7. Sometimes
8. Could Be Machine
9. This Is Who I Am