Charli XCX’s third studio album, Charli, is so incredibly well crafted that at least half the album should already be on your go to playlists. The first eleven tracks are quintessential Charli, synth heavy pop tracks that are equal parts hypnotic and reviving, pulling you deeper into the mood it creates. It’s an incredibly atmospheric album, brilliant for creating a specific vibe, however the consistency of the musicality within it can lend itself to being almost monotonous at times. The collaborations add a bit of spice to the tracks, particularly ‘Warm’, which features the ever popular girl band Haim, but by the time track eleven rolls around, it starts to feel almost tame. ‘White Mercedes’, ‘Silver Cross’ and ‘I Don’t Wanna Know’ roll into each other in a way that sits almost on the wrong side of cohesion.
However that all changes when ‘Official’ begins. With it, the album takes a turn, and the last four tracks skid into new territory, rejuvenating the album just when it needs to be. It smashes through the atmosphere created in the best possible way, making the album well worth listening to even just for those four tracks alone.
In a nutshell:
Charli is a brilliant, atmospheric album with an incredible twist in the third act that’s well worth the listen.