Album Review: Beautiful Mess

Back when I was much shorter than I already am, I wore pigtails and loved watching music videos. One music video is vividly imprinted in my mind. It was gothic, black and white, and had all the intrigue of film noir. This was Gin Wigmore’s music video for her song Hey Ho. Gin Wigmore’s albums Holy Smoke (2009) and Gravel & Wine (2011) were amongst the few we had in my childhood home. This was when physical media was more mainstream than digital in New Zealand. Investing in CDs was a deliberate choice because you already knew you were going to commit to listening to an album from start to finish. It was twenty to thirty dollars to listen to one album from one artist. This may sound obvious, but back then it was

With a bit of nostalgia in my mind, I venture out for an evening walk while I listen to Gin Wigmore’s newest album Beautiful Mess that was kindly sent to me for this review. Wigmore was born in Auckland, New Zealand and has international recognition for being a critically acclaimed musician. She has over 630 million global streams to date and has four multi-platform studio albums in New Zealand and Australia, including her most recognised debut album, Holy Smoke. Her latest work – her first in eight years – is an album that navigates love, loss, divorce, and motherhood, and was born from a marriage breakdown that ultimately became a breakthrough.

Predominantly, this album was recorded in the United States during a weekend trip to a remote studio in Palm Springs. Dave Goodison and Steven Padin were the collaborators contributing to this highly personal album. You can see the transparency throughout this album that reflects Wigmore returning to her safe space in music after years. There is a tongue-in-cheek delivery while also being deeply courageous in vulnerability. It doesn’t take itself too seriously while taking the emotions very seriously. And if you have ever heard Wigmore’s voice before, you already know how beautifully raspy and powerful her voice is.

Because this album seems to reflect a deep transformation, the emotions lie in the lyrics. It is a story told in two sides, front to back, being a double-sided album. As the title suggests, there is something beautiful and messy about it. I find it hard to critique much about this album when I find it truly and modestly encompasses the duality of chaos and peace. You start with the opening track Country Diamond, which is a reflection on Wigmore’s past self and the questioning of possible other life choices. The guitar gives us melancholy for this reason, and the drums follow a rhythm that reminds me of an American country-style bar.

The song Hollywood has my personal favourite lyrics. It’s a soft, raunchy song – tender and truthful, like an expressionist painting. Wigmore commits to going all in with the visual lyricism. And when we get to the B side, we have a complete turning point with songs like Beautiful Mess and Rodeo, reflecting Wigmore spilling all emotions after the realisation that a relationship cannot be mended. The contrast between the two sides of the record is such a powerful choice and is clearly intentional, with the album title as a whole. It stays a whole body of work while showing the contrasts of sides. This is specifically on an emotional level but naturally the sound as well. Like light and dark. My personal favourite is Rodeo, which is an almighty, gritty song about the realisation you have to restart and reinvent your life.

Beautiful Mess is a deeply honest and personal message of self-love and a reflection of learning to live in harmony rather than opposition.