If there is only one artist who you could say is in their moment, then it would be hard to look past Charli XCX. Having set in motion a whole cultural zeitgeist with previous album Brat, the pop and dance extraordinaire has forayed into fashion and film, lending to the score of Emerald Fennel’s take on Wuthering Heights last year.
With seemingly the world at her beck and call, Charli could have gone in any direction for album seven. Having conquered the mainstream with Brat, marrying electropop with dance and rave to wide acclaim, the easy choice could have been to return to that well and go again. Instead, perhaps inspired by the continued heightened media attention, Charli dials in rock tones on Music, Fashion, Film to provide an edge where Brat and her previous were keener to get dancefloors and raves jumping.
This isn’t to say this is a full-fledged rock record; there is still plenty that traces back to what came before: layered vocals, with electronic beats and synths. Instead, the addition of distorted guitar chords provides new flavour to get those same crowds jumping. Despite the name, “Rock Music” still feels at home within Charli’s wheelhouse, with guitars providing the main beat drop for an easily listenable, punchy and catchy chorus. Or there is the simply named “Yeah” that melds synth with layers of guitars, nudging into more a dance rock feel.
The added edge also seeps into the lyrics, with Charli reflecting on her place with this global level of fame. “Persona” examines image and her sense of self, while walls of noise smother the soundwaves. Relationships remain another key focal point, from the romantic, as “I’m Afraid” reflects on her identity since marrying George Dean from The 1975.
In all, Music, Fashion, Film carefully balances Charli’s playful and relatable ravepop in a slightly darkened, rock sheen. “Magic Metal Montana”, for instance, would be right at home on the setlist of any indie rock or Midwest emo band. It is also a perfect example of Charli’s other, more sincere side, and in that way, just like it’s title, Music, Fashion, Film is another demonstration of Charli’s burgeoning creativity.
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