Ends & Begins by Labrinth
Labrinth’s latest album, Ends & Begins, is like a sci-fi movie with great special effects but a so-so plot. On the surface, it dazzles, mixing lush production with bold vocals, but dig a little deeper and you might feel like you’ve seen (or heard) this all before—complete with the same emotional highs and lows as Euphoria, the HBO series where Labrinth’s music made waves.
This ten-track album clocks in at under 30 minutes, making it a brief yet intense exploration of love, life, and heartbreak. Labrinth uses all the tools in his producer’s toolkit, layering gospel harmonies, dream-pop whispers, and pulsating synths to create an atmospheric, cinematic experience. It’s clear that the production is meant to overwhelm and envelop you, but sometimes it feels like being wrapped in a blanket that’s a little too heavy. Labrinth has a talent for creating mood, but here, the mood often outshines the substance.
Musically, Ends & Begins feels like a grand, cosmic voyage—think of it as a soundtrack for floating through space, except the spaceship’s speakers occasionally malfunction. The production is sleek and expansive, leaning heavily on electronics and reverb to create a sense of grandeur. However, at times it becomes a little too much, like trying to find peace in a thunderstorm. Tracks like “Kill For Your Love” and “Never Felt So Alone” showcase Labrinth’s ability to create emotional soundscapes, but they also suffer from overproduction—so many layers that you could lose the melody in the shuffle .
Labrinth’s lyrical focus is love, but with a side of existential dread. There’s a lot of yearning, heartbreak, and spiritual metaphor, but the words often feel like recycled thoughts from previous works. Lines such as “I got touched by God and it messed me up” (from “The Feels”) may sound powerful, but upon reflection, they risk becoming a bit cliché. There are moments of vulnerability, but too often the lyrics fall into predictable patterns, leaving you wishing for something more raw and less polished.
If you’re looking for highlights, “The Feels” with Zendaya is definitely one. Their chemistry works wonders, even though it feels like Labrinth is dipping back into the Euphoria well for inspiration. “Kill For Your Love” has a catchy hook, though the verses drag a bit. Billie Eilish’s guest spot on “Never Felt So Alone” brings a welcomed haunting vibe to the album, giving it a jolt of personality it sometimes lacks.
The album’s biggest issue is its uneven pacing. For a record that’s only about half an hour long, it manages to feel both rushed and repetitive. Some tracks blend into each other without leaving a lasting impact, like background music in a fancy restaurant. There’s no strong narrative arc to tie the songs together, which makes it feel more like a collection of disconnected moments than a fully realized concept.
Despite its grand emotional ambitions, Ends & Begins can leave you feeling a bit hollow. The swirling production and heavy-handed lyrics don’t always connect on a deeper level. It’s as if Labrinth wants to evoke profound emotions, but the delivery occasionally gets lost in its own theatrics.
This album will resonate most with Labrinth’s hardcore fans and those who love atmospheric, cinematic pop with big production flourishes. Casual listeners or those new to Labrinth might find it more style than substance, and fans of more lyrically grounded artists could feel a little underwhelmed by the abstract, sometimes overwrought themes.
Ends & Begins is an ambitious, sonically rich album that offers moments of beauty, but ultimately, it feels more like an elaborate sound experiment than a fully cohesive work. Labrinth reaches for the stars, but occasionally trips over his own grandeur along the way. Still, if you’re into sweeping production and love a little melodrama in your music, there’s enough here to keep you engaged—just don’t expect to be transformed.
