Charli XCX’s Wuthering Heights soundtrack offers an ‘elegant and brutal’ interpretation of
Emily Brontë’s gothic masterpiece. While the cultural earthquake of BRAT left a legacy that
seemed impossible to follow, Charli has excelled by pivoting into an entirely different,
haunting sonic landscape for Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of the novel.
The opening track, “House” , featuring The Velvet Underground’s John Cale, perfectly captures the sense of atmospheric dread. Inspired by Cale’s philosophy in the 2021 Velvet Underground documentary, that music should be both “elegant and brutal”, Charli felt she wanted to encapsulate both these emotions. Cale’s spoken-word poem gives gravity and grit that anchor Charli’s ethereal and intensely beautiful production.
The accompanying music video shows Charli painting vivid images, such as candle wax dripping down her skin, a reflection of the realisation line, “I think I’m gonna die in this house.” Charli’s autotune distorts the emotion conveyed in her lyricism, creating an uncanny, supernatural texture that reflects the walls and boundaries of Wuthering Heights. It is intensely beautiful, genuinely ominous, and a daring evolution for an artist who refuses to stay in the BRAT lane.
“Wall of Sound” follows with an immediate sense of impending doom, expertly balanced against a thread of wistful thinking. The track beautifully builds on the tension of desire and the agony of holding back, which is punctuated by Charli’s soaring high notes and sharp intonation. As the track reaches its end, the audio is filtered out, leaving the listener feeling stuck behind a wall of sound. This is the perfect sonic metaphor for the physical and social boundaries that define Brontë’s novel, trapping the listener in the same emotional cage as the characters.
“Chains of Love” is an ode to Catherine feeling trapped in the shackles of her marriage when she yearns for Heathcliff and to be back at Wuthering Heights. The dark, melancholy track beautifully accompanies a sequence of Cathy, played by Margot Robbie, trying to enjoy the comforts of her upper-class lifestyle, whilst experiencing a deep sense of heartache for what she cannot have.
The rest of the soundtrack carries on its vivid, ethereal and gothic elements, drawing on
synth pop. Charli utilises jagged, metallic textures and pulsing basslines to mirror the
rugged, misty Yorkshire moors.
Ultimately, Wuthering Heights is a complete departure from the neon green party girl BRAT
era. The soundtrack is an ambitious pivot that proves Charli XCX has multi-genre talent and
versatility beyond her signature sound. To fully compare the two would be a disservice to
both. Instead, we should celebrate Charli XCX as an artist who isn’t afraid to defy musical
boundaries and produce an immersive soundscape that breathes life into Fennell’s film adaptation.
7/10
