Album of the Month: Charli XCX's "Charli"

By Lawson Wrigley

Charli XCX returns after 5 long years since her last album 2013’s punky ‘Sucker’. During this time she has released 2 excellent mixtapes; Number 1 Angel and POP2 and a string of electropop singles including such fan favourites, Girls Night Out and Focus. Back in album mode after threatening to never release a full LP again, this offering is her most personal to date.

A diverse musician, Ms XCX has evolved through a variety of sounds, producers and even some forays into writing hits for huge pop stars. It’s a whirlwind of success as we reach the eye of the storm with the futuristic pop star's latest, the self-titled Charli .

At first listen it’s very hard to not see this as Charli’s attempt at a more commercial remake of her most recent mixtape POP2. Both share similar producers, A.G. Cook, Umru and Novak and follow a similar structure of heavy collaborations and emotional solo tunes. A much-loved fan favourite from Pop2, Track 10 finds itself un-remixed into radio-friendly pop tune Blame It On Your Love. Although an excellent pop song, this move seems like somewhat of a cop-out compared to the rest of the ultramodern ‘Charli’. However, where POP2 was an underground rave, a roaring exploration into electropop, ‘Charli’ emerges as a more cohesive defiant personal statement. Diverse in direction, it explores the many different angles of Charli’s pop persona. From radio-friendly bops, to futuristic club tunes, to sad bangers, Charli XCX succeeds in innovating her in any direction she chooses. 

Some of the best cuts on ‘Charli’ are when the popstar muses alone. Next Level Charli, a defiant opening anthem, sees Charli reusing many motives and themes from her catalogue; ‘Vroomin Vroomin’,’ Pink and Blue’ and the braggish tagline “I go hard, I go fast, and I never look back.” Other cuts show a more intimate side of the hardcore party persona we love and know well. Songs like Silver Cross are about a rush of self-destructive passion and Official a brooding revelation of love, reveal a new side to Charli. Arguably, one of the best off the LP, White Mercedes, Charli is at her most vulnerable. These moments are more intimate and allow a more retrospective view of the popular, party girl.

Being the frequent collaborator that she is, Charli uses friends and fellow musicians as inspiration. On this LP, she often brings out the best in her fellow collaborators. 1999, a more commercial single, sees Charli escaping with Troye into familiar pop directions. But it’s 2099 where their chemistry truly reaches its peak as they create a musing pop future. She invites embattled Sky Ferreira on the gothic, crunchy Cross You Out and offers her a unique freedom and opportunity to shine. But the star is the pulsating war-cry of Gone where Charli and Christine and the Queen, create an alliance of excellent vocal play, led by Charli’s scepticism and mistrust and very quickly joined by Christine’s mischievous musings they are a match made in heaven.

‘Charli’ is the redefining record that will solidify Charli XCX as the future of pop music.