Babehoven - “Bad Week”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 2

Pairs Well With…Big Thief, Snail Mail, Indigo De Souza

There’s a persistent drone throughout Babehoven’s 2021 album Nastavi, Calliope, billed as her first full-length after a series of EPs released since 2018. Whether in a post-rock dirge like on opener “Bad Week” or echoed harmonies throughout “Crossword”, Babehoven takes a bedroom folk/pop setting and adds an extra layer or two of experimentation to twist her otherwise minimal songcraft. Employing a wistful whisper of a vocal, Babehoven puts tenderness and vulnerability forward as her power on Nastavi, Calliope, allowing density to be inferred and emotionality to rise to forefront. With minimal usage of percussion, Babehoven picks and chooses spots to embrace rhythm (see “Annie’s Shoes”) that stand out amongst the sparer moments on Nastavi, Calliope. The real heart here lies in the New York based artist’s personal and to-the-point songwriting, lyrics that match the minimalist nature of her music with equal amenability. (Kevin McStravick)