Released on Feb. 13, “Wuthering Heights” by Charli XCX is a soundtrack album dedicated to Emerald Fennell’s movie adaptation of Emily Brönte’s only novel. After the explosion of “Brat,” Charli XCX continues to embrace her iconic sonic signatures, yet broadening them in a more cinematic and emotionally narrative direction that feels grander, darker and more image-oriented.
The vocals remain unmistakably Charli’s — choppy, glitched and heavily processed. Consistent throughout the whole album, the vocals are sent to a room reverb that matches a mysterious scene, as if she is singing inside a box or a restricted space.
The synths with hyperpop core also remind listeners of her music flavor. The extensive use of strings is remarkable in this album. Even though the use of strings greatly contributes to a new level of epic in “Wuthering Heights,” Charli XCX is not achieving that with a traditional acoustic sounding orchestra. The strings in this album are also very synth-sounding: a little distorted, sharp and bright. They seamlessly blend in the electronic layers and the ambient sound effects, creating tension and enriching sonic colors. In this way, the strings evoke both hyperpop and cinematic sensibilities, letting listeners hear new inspiration in a familiar setting.
Moreover, Charli plays with the sonic space, manipulating dramatic spatial effects to create sonic images. In “Wall of Sound,” sound and image seem carefully matched: the vocals are added with heavy echoing delays, creating a messy effect as if the sounds are hitting a wall of sound in reality. Such technique places listeners within the architecture of the song’s emotional landscape. This detail showcases the atmospheric immersion of the album and adds a cinematic layer to hyperpop.
For creating sonic scenes, there is also an extensive use of sound effects. The first pre-release track, “House featuring John Cale,” uses a rusty metal sound as the main motif, expanding sonic possibilities while creating a dark, gothic and mystical scene. In “My Reminder,” out-of-pitch strings are piercing and swirling between two ears, acting more than just an instrument: it is also a great horror movie ambient effect. These unconventional approaches expand the understanding of what is considered as music.
The album has a clear emotional progression, unfolding like chapters in a story. Each track is finding its own place on the hyperpop-cinematic balance. “Dying for You” reconnects more explicitly to Charli’s classic hyperpop style from the first second when the fast synths, addictive vocal chops and punchy, dancing drum beats come out. “Always Everywhere” is more emotional; the vocals are more intimate, strings-like saw synths filling up a spacious sonic landscape. “Open Up” interludes with an excellent one-minute transitional piece full of artistry; the vocals are placed at the back of the mix, and the music is more conscious-streaming than structured, immersing listeners in a slow, dreamy atmosphere. “Seeing Things” incorporates fast-moving string chords and piano textures that soften the electronic intensity of the vocals.
Besides music, the lyrics are more straightforward and conversation, fitting the narrative of the characters.
Indeed, “Wuthering Heights” innovates and deepens Charli’s musical personality. However, the level of changes and innovation may still be a little less than what the listeners are expecting. Individual tracks are pleasant to hear, yet when “Wuthering Heights” is played as a whole concept, its repetitiveness can be exhausting, since all tracks are highly similar in production style and structure.
The second pre-release single, “Chains of Love,” is a preview of almost all tracks in the album: a quiet start emphasizing Charli’s iconic vocals singing lyrics in parallel structure, and the space suddenly widens in the chorus, with strong impacts and strings filling up the ears.
Although approaching to blend in classical cinematic elements, “Wuthering Heights” did not escape the basic chord patterns and simple melodic line of pop songs. The melodies are pleasant to hear and the hooks can be brainwashing, but they are also repetitive, being all short and straightforward phrases. This arguably keeps Charli’s style more distinguishable and authentic, yet it may also make this album fall short in creativity and innovation. Since the classical vibe is being evoked, longer melodic lines and more complicated harmonic structures may be bigger surprises for the listeners.
Overall, “Wuthering Heights” expands the possibilities of Charli XCX’s musical identity. She invites audiences to step into a hyperpop universe that is no longer confined to the club but projected onto a vast cinematic screen. It demonstrates that distorted electronics can coexist with cinematic strings and narrative depth, painting vivid sonic images and guides listeners through a story.
Nevertheless, its uniform production choices also highlight direction for future improvement; maybe the golden ratio between club dance hyperpop music and cinematic soundtracks is yet to be found.
3.5/5
