In 2024, Charlie XCX released her album, Brat, an EDM sensation that became a staple for summer 2024 – also known as “brat summer.” Two years later, Charlie XCX has taken a complete shift in vibes in Wuthering Heights, the film soundtrack.
When it was revealed that the majority of the movie’s music would come from Charlie XCX, it was a surprise. Gothic fiction and EDM don’t exactly go together, so there were many doubts about how the two distinct genres would mix.
These opinions changed when “House featuring John Cale” took over social media with comedic movie edits and memes. The song fit the gothic atmosphere of the book, undeniably. Its instrumentals were brutal, and their voices were haunting.
Most of the album had a similar tone, though a bit softer.
There is a perfect blend of the orchestral instruments and electronic pop sounds. Charlie’s voice is often distorted and reverbed, matching the very gothic nature of the novel. “Almost Everywhere” is the best song in that sense.
Though the vibe is completely different, “Dying for You” has instrumentals most similar to Brat. The song’s heavy base and synth beats somehow manage to cohere perfectly with the other songs on the album, while the string instruments were presented more classically.
Lyrically, though, the album is lackluster. While the songwriting reflects the nature of the story, it feels basic and does not execute flowery language well. There are no lines that feel very groundbreaking.
What the album does not have in songwriting, it makes up for in atmosphere and instrumentation. While the genre is unconventional, Wuthering Heights captures the atmosphere of both the novel and the 2026 film adaptation.
