[REVIEW] 'Paracosm' Proves Absolutely Is Stepping Into Her Own Lane As She Makes Her Biggest Artistic Statement To Date

'Paracosm' works because it understands scale. Not just sonic scale, though there is plenty of that, but emotional scale. Absolutely’s 2023 debut 'CEREBRUM' dissected feelings like case studies. This album feels less interested in analysis and more interested in impact. The emotions are not explained. They are staged.

The record opens with tension. “Natural Disaster” sets the tone immediately, not because of its imagery but because of how fully she commits to intensity. The production pushes forward, the vocal strains at the top of its range, and the chorus refuses to soften the plea at its centre. It establishes a key theme that runs through the album: control versus surrender.

That tension threads into “Nowhere to Hide,” where release comes through chaos rather than calm. The writing captures the strange relief that follows emotional overload. Instead of glamorising the breakdown, she treats it as necessary. That pattern repeats across the record. Paracosm does not romanticise instability, but it does treat vulnerability as action rather than weakness.

Midway through, the tone shifts. “Painting by Numbers,” “Simple Things” and “Helium” explore happiness with a sense of disbelief. These tracks lean more melodic and open, allowing her voice to stretch into warmer territory. While each stands alone effectively, the sequencing places them close enough that their tonal similarities blur slightly. A sharper contrast in production or structure between the three would have strengthened the album’s pacing.

Where the record regains edge is “Trojan Horse.” It is the album’s most grounded moment. The hook carries real tension, and the writing balances accusation with lingering attachment. This is where Absolutely sounds most assured. The emotional stakes feel specific, not atmospheric.

“I Just Don’t Know You Yet” continues to justify its reputation. Built on anticipation rather than heartbreak, it frames love as something still forming rather than something already lost. The vocal restraint makes it land. “Goodbye Glitter” follows with one of the album’s clearest thematic statements: letting go of image in favour of substance. It is simple but effective, and the production gives it weight without overwhelming the lyric.

The title track, “Paracosm,” arrives late and deliberately sparse. Instead of delivering a climactic peak, it reduces everything. The scaled-back arrangement places the focus on perspective. When she questions whether parts of herself will always remain strange, it feels less like a dramatic twist and more like quiet acceptance. Ending the album in that reflective space feels intentional.

Sonically, the project stretches further than CEREBRUM. Pop foundations remain, but the arrangements take more risks. “Helium” expands beyond a straightforward ballad into jazz-inflected territory. “Natural Disaster” carries harsher textures beneath a clean vocal. “Goodbye Glitter” layers strings with spacious production that builds gradually rather than exploding. The variety feels curated rather than scattered.

There are moments where ambition slightly outweighs restraint. A leaner edit in the centre would tighten the emotional arc. But the broader vision holds. The sequencing feels thought through. The themes recur without repetition, feeling accidental.

Paracosm confirms growth. Absolutely sounds more confident in her writing, more controlled in her vocal delivery, and clearer in her artistic direction. This is not reinvention. It is refinement. She has identified her emotional range and committed to exploring it fully.

Absolutely is no longer testing ideas in public. With Paracosm, she presents a cohesive identity. The world she builds here feels intentional, and more importantly, it feels sustainable.

Rating: ★★★★☆