Cate Le Bon’s “Michelangelo Dying”: A Journey Through Heartache
Two years ago, Cate Le Bon entered the studio with ambitions of crafting an industrial album. Reflecting on her creative process, she candidly shares from her home in Cardiff, Wales, “I had this image of something industrial and angular. I was sidestepping, trying to outrun sitting with heartache. But I kept veering back towards what Michelangelo Dying became, and I just went, Right, let’s do this, roll up my sleeves, and look this thing in the eye.”
The “thing” she refers to was the painful dissolution of a long-term relationship. Through Michelangelo Dying, Le Bon explores a spectrum of emotions including sadness, desolation, tenderness, and even the quiet satisfaction that can emerge during the acceptance phase of grief. Although she initially sought out harsh, industrial sounds to act as a distraction from her pain, she ultimately found more resonance in creating lush, flickering sonic landscapes that echo her emotional turmoil.
Her first single, “Heaven Is No Feeling,” showcases this shift beautifully. In the song, Le Bon reflects, “I see you watch me work for your slow hand / Draping my body with no rhythm, just desire / The day, the night, it all ends / And you smoke our love like you’ll never know violence.” The buoyant beats conjure images of languorous movement in dimly lit rooms, illuminated by an interplay of blue and red lights.
As she recounts her journey of making this record, Le Bon admits, “Everything was unspooling from me in ways that maybe, in a different state of mind, I would’ve censored myself a little bit more. It’s probably some of the most vulnerable lyrics I’ve ever written and not edited out.” An example of this raw emotional honesty can be found in “Is It Worth It (Happy Birthday),” where she tenderly sings, “I thought about your mother / I hope she knows I love her.” This quietly devastating line encapsulates the profound sense of loss that extends beyond the end of a relationship.
Cate Le Bon’s Michelangelo Dying invites listeners into her intimate world, filled with reflections on love, grief, and acceptance, marking a significant evolution in her artistry.
