Written by Juno Callen. Graphics by Avery Melhado.
When Director Emerald Fennell first attempted to recruit Charli XCX for her “Wuthering Heights” adaptation, she suggested the British popstar make just a single song for the film. Charli XCX doubled down and committed to producing an entire album. “House,” the first single, was released in November. The collaboration between Charli XCX and Velvet Underground co-founder John Cale promised a vast departure from her previous work, with Cale’s eerie narration and the screeching orchestra accompaniment.
Charli XCX said in a post on her Substack, “I wanted to dive into persona, into a world that felt undeniably raw, wild, sexual, gothic, British, tortured, and full of actual real sentences, punctuation, and grammar. Without a cigarette or a pair of sunglasses in sight, it was all totally other from the life I was currently living. I was fucking IN.”
Three months later, it’s difficult to say that Charli XCX did not fall flat on those promises. As hinted by the two following singles released before the full soundtrack, the artist never strays too far from her roots. “House” now appears as more of a PR stunt to buzz up attention for the film instead of marking a massive turning point in the tone and style of her discography.
In the 12-track record, Charli XCX returns to the classic mid-2010s sound that first established her as an artist. The parallels to her albums “True Romance” (2013) and “Number 1 Angel” (2017) are undeniable, but I would be lying if I said she didn’t do it in a way that still feels new. The quickest summary I can give for this record is that it’s “True Romance” if Charli XCX had a full orchestra, Hollywood budget and Emerald Fennell breathing down her neck while making it. It’s a good album and she does smoothly slip back into her 2013 persona, but anyone excitedly anticipating a gritty soundtrack fitting for a gothic novel adaptation should probably skip this listen.
Highlights of the record include “Wall of Sound”, “Chains of Love” and “Funny Mouth.” “Chains of Love” and “Wall of Sound” were both released as supporting singles in the months prior to the film’s release, and for good reason. “True Romance” Charli is back in full force in these two. Her stunning, powerful vocals are blended so seamlessly with the swelling strings, you’d swear she always performed with an orchestra. The more experimental “Funny Mouth” rounds out the album with a tone of mystery and intrigue largely exclusive to it and “House.”
“Eyes of the World” featuring American singer-songwriter Sky Ferreira is an obvious contender for the best track on the album, and it’s the only song I’d strongly recommend listening to even if you are not a Charli XCX fan. Last collaborating in 2019, the two indie pop icons return with a melodic, blasting anthem that uniquely utilizes strings, synths and the vocal abilities of the duo.
Because the entire record is only 34 minutes, I’d still recommend fans listen to the entire record at least once. Anyone interested in the film or seeing what Charli XCX is up to two years after “brat” should check out the songs I mentioned above. This album isn’t a revolutionary must-listen, but it is a fun one.
