9/10
Almost two years after releasing her iconic album BRAT, which defined summer 2024, Charli xcx has dropped her seventh major release, Wuthering Heights. She officially ended her BRAT era on Jan. 30 with the film The Moment, capping off months of internet-fueled popularity. Now, Charli shifts directions with her music, foregoing the brash vibe of BRAT for the sweeping, gothic love of Wuthering Heights.
Her album accompanies Emerald Fennell’s movie of the same name, encompassing the obsession, toxic romance, and fragile liberation of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. Charli created a soundtrack of haunting violin and chaotic energy to accentuate the film’s volatile romance.
The album opens with “House,” an eerie track, completely different from the rest of the album’s messy and obsessive feel. Featuring a two-note violin baseline and a rough, unsettling voiceover by Welsh artist John Cale, this song evokes a disturbing and sinister atmosphere. Cale’s haunting voiceover excels in cementing the chilling spirit of the song, alongside Charli’s repetition of “I think I’m gonna die in this house.”
Despite the ominous intro, the following tracks are increasingly emotional in their own way, full of longing and obsession—their sounds and themes are a stark contrast to the unearthly feel of “House.” “Wall of Sound” features a potent string accompaniment that enriches the delicate, ballad-like track. “Unbelievable pressure, wall of sound / Love and hatred, and I can’t escape it,” Charli sings, capturing the inner turmoil of being trapped in her own head. She contrasts overwhelming desire with fear and doubt that together form a self-imposed wall of sound.
As Charli further immerses herself in Catherine and Heathcliff’s tale, she captures the relentless and binding love they share. “Dying for You” speaks to the intensity and toxicity of their emotions. “Yeah you’re like my favourite jewellery worn just like a noose ‘round my neck,” she sings, highlighting the danger and self-destruction their relationship provokes, all while describing its addictive nature. “All the pain and torture that I went through / All makes sense to me now, I was dying for you,” she belts. The song perfectly conveys Catherine and Heathcliff’s dynamic, underlining the pain and suffering they welcome in their twisted relationship.
“Always Everywhere” further serves as a testament to Catherine’s character, demonstrating her obsessive love of Heathcliff and the tempestuous nature of her emotions. The song skyrocketed on both global and domestic charts within hours of release. “I can’t escape the storm you gave me / Constant lighting in my veins / Every echo calls your name,” Charli sings, emphasizing that Catherine feels her love is inescapable. It’s here that she explores the themes of tortured romance and the self-destructive nature of obsession.
As Charli moves into the lead single “Chains of Love,” which was released on Nov. 13 of last year, Catherine seems to become conscious of the self-ruin her love is causing. “I’d rather lay down on thorns / I’d rather drown in a stream / I’d rather light myself on fire,” Charli sings, relaying Catherine’s desperate desire to leave her relationship with Heathcliff. The song is easily recognizable due to its iconic chorus that ends powerfully but resigned. “I know the chains of love won’t break,” she belts, promising that Catherine can’t leave, no matter how hard she tries.
The song is the heart of the album due to its compelling originality. Charli blends the tragic, sweeping story of Wuthering Heights with her signature electronic beats. She preserves the best parts of BRAT all the while providing maturity and emotional depth, creating something completely fresh that never fails to seamlessly captivate.
The following track, “Out of Myself,” further explores this corrosive relationship. It pairs the dark lyrics with an upbeat but irregular sound, engendering a sense of frenzied disorientation.
“Open up” provides a breather in the middle of the album and signifies a vital turning point in the storyline. Charli’s voice is ethereal on repeated lyrics, set against the rise and fall of ghostly strings. The song switches the narrative from an overwhelming whirlwind of a love story to the destructive aftermath of a separation.
“Seeing Things,” “Altars,” and “Eyes of the World” all deal with the fallout of Catherine and Heathcliff’s estrangement. “I think I’m seeing things / Keep staring through the glass to find you,” Charli sings, beautifully exposing the isolation and loss of a relationship. Catherine is finding herself looking for Heathcliff everywhere, a subtle callback to the track “Always Everywhere.”
“Altars” conveys the relief of being liberated from a damaged relationship and explores the power of being independent. “One is not the loneliest number / I won’t keep putting all my faith in you,” she sings.
Charli also explores the pressure and judgment of society and acknowledges the effect it has on Catherine and Heathcliff’s relationship. The collaboration with Sky Ferreira on “Eyes of the World” provides a tonal shift. Ferreira’s gritty voice blends powerfully with Charli’s tortured breathiness. “No matter what I do, no matter what I say / You’re gonna think the things you think about me anyway,” Charli sings, emphasizing the flaws of preconceived views and judgment.
The final two tracks of the album, “My Reminder” and “Funny Mouth,” recognize the maturity and reflection that each character undergoes. “I don’t hate you, we’re just different / You’re always my reminder,” she sings in “My Reminder.” The past, to the story, is deeply important, but it also must be accepted and moved on from. The track captures how Catherine and Heathcliff evolve, moving past their mistakes while still reminiscing about the fleeting joys of their relationship.
“Funny Mouth” repeatedly poses the question, “Will we be alright?” It brings the album full circle. It ends the circle of chaos, despair, hope, and love, culminating in a sense of forgiveness and regret, even though all the damage has already been done.
Wuthering Heights provides a whole new side of Charli xcx. One that does not disappoint. It’s overflowing with longing, desperation, and gothic strings, spectacularly capturing the wildness of Catherine and Heathcliff’s tragic love story. While most of the album features endlessly repeating lyrics, creating a slight feeling of boredom, the album as a whole is an emotional rollercoaster that is beautifully heartbreaking and true to its source material. It is truly a work of art.
