Charli xcx – Wuthering Heights: Album Review

Live4ever 17 February, 2026

Artwork for the Charli XCX album Wuthering Heights

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Although ‘Wuthering Heights’ is a pivot from Charli xcx’s previous work, it clearly displays her signature aesthetic and originality.

Charli xcx showcases the range of her artistry with the release of Wuthering Heights, the soundtrack to Emerald Fennell’s new film adaption of Emily Bronte’s classic novel.

As an artist known for her ability to be experimental, Wuthering Heights is a far cry from her culture shifting previous release Brat.

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Departing sonically from the drug-fuelled highs of club culture, Charli instead takes the audience on a journey into the raw, gothic drama of 19th century Britain.

After being approached by Fennell to write a song for the soundtrack, Charli’s creativity couldn’t be limited to one single addition.

Inspired by Fennell’s screenplay, she immersed herself into a period very different from her own, subsequently after defining her most mainstream era to date over. This was certainly a great artistic choice for Charli, accompanied by her long-time collaborator Finn Keane.

Opening track House is as beautiful as it is haunting, featuring a dramatic monologue from John Cale, it begins with groaning strings, slowly reaching to a crescendo that will send chills of fear through the listener.

Charli’s vocals accompany Cale midway, still enhanced with her signature Auto-Tune, almost pleading for an escape with the repeating screams of, ‘I think I’m gonna die in this house’. It’s dark, creepy and certainly cinematic.

The vocal distortion continues on Wall Of Sound, which like its namesake production technique encompasses Charli’s vocals using an orchestral, densely layered build up of strings to create tension.

She questions the audience, helping to add to the sense of paranoia: ‘Tell me you hear it, that wall of sound?’ Charli creates a mix of dread yet intrigue for what’s to come.

Keeping to the love story narrative of the novel, Charli sings of the duality in relationships: the uplifting joy of romance and the agonising pain of heartbreak.

Dying For You, a catchy pop track where Charli sings of loving a partner so much you would sacrifice yourself for them, marks a tonal switch to the previous droning, industrial sound of the album’s opening.

Chains Of Love changes direction slightly, exploring the theme of melancholic heartbreak which underpins the album.

It’s relatively calm, with pretty orchestral strings which counteract the opening songs. Charli isn’t singing about a happy love story, instead she’s reflecting on how love can strip you to the rawest parts of yourself. It’s sadly relatable to the contemporary audience.

Charli’s second feature artist is Sky Ferreira, one of the first Internet indie-pop artists to come from MySpace.

On Eyes Of The World, Charli sings about seeing herself through the perspective of other people’s assumptions: ‘Plant projections on my mind, something that you recognise.’

Ferreira’s vocals in the second verse sound sad, almost defeated. It marks an interesting contrast to Charli’s passionate cries for freedom (‘eyes of the world, set me free’).

Although the themes throughout the song can be perceived through the lens of the novel’s two protagonists, it could also be interpreted as a commentary on celebrity and fame.

Although Wuthering Heights is certainly a pivot from Charli’s previous work, it clearly displays her signature aesthetic and originality.

While on first impression Charli may not be the go to choice for a period drama soundtrack, she manages to make it modern and also familiar to the essence of the original narrative.

Is Wuthering Heights a Charli xcx record or an accompanying album to a major motion picture? Ultimately, it doesn’t matter.

Charli xcx demonstrates what makes her a unique and interesting artist, building on her cult status as a pioneer in her industry.

Lauren Scott

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