"Butterfly Net" is a song by American singer-songwriter Caroline Polachek, included on her fourth studio album Desire, I Want to Turn Into You, released on February 14, 2023. The song was written and produced by Polachek along with Danny L Harle. A remix version featuring American singer Weyes Blood was released on February 7, 2024, as the second single from the reissue of the album, subtitled Everasking Edition.[1]
Polachek first published a part of the remix cover art on her social media accounts on February 6, 2024, with the text "Tomorrow".[9] The following day, the song was surprise-released for digital download and streaming, and in parallel she announced the reissue of the album.[10]
Critical reception
In a review of the standard edition of Desire, I Want to Turn Into You, Rolling Stone critic Maura Johnston described "Butterfly Net" as a "glowing ballad", and praised its "slow-burn instrumentation" and Polachek's "impassioned vocals".[11] For the same magazine, Larisha Paul stated that Weyes Blood's participation on the song is an "exalting appearance".[12]
According to Flood Magazine's reviewer Will Schube, both artists "join forces" in a "power ballad-inspired" chorus.[13] The remix was described by Robin Murray for Clash as a "divine duet" and "truly beautiful piece of music" with an "spiritual quality", "more spartan than the avant-pop maximalism of the original album".[14] In a positive review, Lucy Harbron for Far Out gave the remix 3.5 out of 5 stars, and stated that Mering's "deep, velvety sound perfectly contrasts the high-ranging vocal acrobatics Polachek is known for".[15]Stereogum critic Chris Deville also praised Weyes Blood's participation on the track.[7]
^Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon; Zoladz, Lindsay (November 30, 2023). "Best Albums of 2023". The New York Times. ISSN0362-4331. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
