Space Cadet (EP)

Space Cadet is the fourth extended play (EP) by Filipino-born British singer-songwriter Beabadoobee. The EP was released on 14 October 2019 by independent record label Dirty Hit, and was supported by the singles "She Plays Bass" and "I Wish I Was Stephen Malkmus". All five tracks were executively produced by English musicians Pete Robertson (of The Vaccines) and Joseph Rodgers. The EP was also written entirely by Beabadoobee and features additional guitar from Matthew Healy (of The 1975) on the title track.

Space Cadet
EP by
Beabadoobee
ReleasedOctober 14, 2019 (2019-10-14)
Genre
Length19:48
LabelDirty Hit
Producer
Beabadoobee chronology
Loveworm
(2019)		 Space Cadet
(2019)		 Fake It Flowers
(2020)
Singles from Space Cadet
  1. "She Plays Bass"
    Released: 21 August 2019
  2. "I Wish I Was Stephen Malkmus"
    Released: 19 September 2019

Background and release

Beabadoobee released "She Plays Bass" as the lead single on 21 August,[1] before releasing the second single "I Wish I Was Stephen Malkmus" on 19 September.[2] Beabadoobee confessed to Nylon in early October that she hadn't formally announced the record but noted that "people know about it. I kind of say it here and there on a live show and then I guess like for [interviews], but I never properly said the name Space Cadet."[3] Originally scheduled for release on 18 October 2019, Space Cadet arrived earlier on 14 October.[4] It succeeds the EPs Lice (2018), Patched Up (2018) and Loveworm (2019).[4] On the concept of the record, Erica Russel of Teen Vogue wrote, "aptly-titled Space Cadet finds the artist leaning heavily into the frustration of being misunderstood and the awkward uncertainty of inching closer towards adulthood. Over an emotive soundbed of fuzzy indie-rock, melancholic grunge, and breezy pop-rock, Bea reassures listeners that it’s okay not to fit in."[5]

Composition

The EP is musically performed in the genre of indie rock and indie pop.[6][7][8][9] Erica Russel of Teen Vogue also wrote that the record features "an emotive soundbed of fuzzy indie-rock, melancholic grunge, and breezy pop-rock".[5] All five tracks on Space Cadet were executively produced by Pete Robertson (former drummer of The Vaccines) and Joseph Rodgers.[10] The title track also features additional guitar by labelmate Matthew Healy of the band The 1975 whom Beabadoobee would later support on their Music for Cars Tour.[10]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Dork[11]
Exclaim!8/10[12]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[13]
NME[14]

Space Cadet was met with critical acclaim upon release. At review aggregator Album of the Year, the release received a weighted average score of 90 out of 100, based on 4 reviews.[15]

Thomas Smith of NME wrote noted that Space Cadet "builds on Bea’s astute songwriting and is a bold revolution for another bright young artist showing off Gen Z’s attitude to take something tried-and-tested and give it a new lease of life." He continued to note that "judging by this effort, she’s poised to become a hero in her own right."[14] Stephen Ackroyd of Dork wrote that "from the word go, this is a fuller, more focused take on the template - scuzzy guitars and slacker pop perfection."[11] Nicole DeMarco of i-D wrote that the EP contains "some of Bea’s most expansive work yet" and noted that the EP indicates her growth "from [a] bedroom artist to indie rock wunderkind."[16] Harper Beattie of Atwood Magazine praised Space Cadet, writing that it "has artfully managed to offer a cohesive showcase of [her] range as a rising artist while incorporating the familiar outer space motif."[17] Cady Siregar of The Line of Best Fit wrote that with the record, Beabadoobee "wears her heart on her sleeve, and she doesn’t care who sees it."[13] Ian Gormely of Exclaim! noted that her ability to "spin emotional stakes out of such basic subject matter as her bass-playing bestie and love for '90s alt-rock" as well as "the sheer speed of her progression as a songwriter, suggest big things to come."[12]

Track listing

Adapted from Tidal.[18]

No.TitleLength
1."Are You Sure"4:04
2."I Wish I Was Stephen Malkmus"3:52
3."Sun More Often"4:01
4."She Plays Bass"3:27
5."Space Cadet"4:24
Total length:19:48

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
UK Independent Album Breakers (OCC)[19] 14

References
  1. Smith, Thomas (21 August 2020). "Beabadoobee shares video for 'She Plays Bass' ahead of Clairo support slots". NME. Retrieved 8 October 2020. ‘She Plays Bass’ as the first single
  2. Richards, Will (19 September 2019). "Beabadoobee shows love for Pavement on new single 'I Wish I Was Stephen Malkmus'". NME. Retrieved 8 October 2020. The new track – from an upcoming EP ‘Space Cadet’, out on October 18 via Dirty Hit – follows the singer’s recent single ‘She Plays Bass’.
  3. Stubblebine, Allison (3 October 2019). "Beabadoobee Wants You To Embrace Your Inner 'Space Cadet'". Nylon. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  4. Krol, Charlotte (14 October 2019). "Beabadoobee's 'Space Cadet' EP arrives early – listen now". NME. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  5. Russell, Erica (22 October 2019). "19-Year-Old Beabadoobee Is Making Music for the Outsiders". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  6. Plummer, Lois (15 November 2019). "Beabadoobee – Space Cadet: New EP review". Spark. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  7. Clift, Henry (25 November 2019). "EP Review: Space Cadet by Beabadoobee". The Mancunion. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  8. Hastings, Elize (20 October 2019). "Album review: Beabadoobee – Space Cadet". The Courier. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  9. Steele, Antonia (21 February 2020). "Space cadet is out of this world". The Pacer. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  10. Castel, Gregory (19 October 2019). "Beabadoobee Is One Happy Space Cadet". Earmilk. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  11. Ackroyd, Stephen (17 October 2019). "EP review: Beabadoobee - Space Cadet EP". Dork. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  12. Gormely, Ian (4 November 2019). "Beabadoobee - Space Cadet". Exclaim!. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  13. Siregar, Cady (14 October 2019). "Beabadoobee wears her heart on her sleeve and doesn't care who sees it". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  14. Smith, Thomas (16 October 2019). "Beabadoobee – 'Space Cadet' EP review: the makings of a grunge icon". NME. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  16. DeMarco, Nicole (18 October 2019). "How Beabadoobee went from bedroom artist to indie rock wunderkind". i-D. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  17. Beattie, Harper (28 October 2019). "Review: beabadoobee Breaks Bedroom Pop Bubble on Grunge-Inspired EP 'Space Cadet'". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  18. "beabadoobee / Space Cadet". Tidal. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  19. "Official Independent Album Breakers Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
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