In her new album, “Wuthering Heights,” Charli XCX lures you in, convincing the listener the impossible is possible: He loves you back. The bravado of “brat” is gone. Instead she encourages the listener to crave the kind of love that ends in madness.

When the album opens, a soft male voice layers over eerie screeches, raising the hairs on arms and forcing a steadying breath. “House” is both an introduction and anchor for the story about to unfold, reminding the listener how it all started. 

Inspired by the new film “Wuthering Heights” starring Margot Robbie, the record carries the same eerie undercurrent. At times, it feels like someone mournfully narrating the slow extinction of a rare species. The species in question is Catherine Earnshaw or perhaps Charli herself. On this record, the two blur together, symbolizing the artist’s new era. 

Charli’s self-control erodes the moment she realizes she can’t live without him. Longing turns her manic, but instead of resisting it or attempting to repair herself, she protects it, pressing it tightly to her chest.

If “brat” was overconfident and bold, “Wuthering Heights” lives in darkness and shadow. The dramatic twists and passionate declarations make the listener’s heart pound as she weaves together a masterpiece pulling the listener into her tragedy. She lets the audience feel the sting of betrayal and the consequences of unchecked devotion.

The album evolves a craving for a love so consuming it pulls its subject into another world: equal parts adventure and tragedy. It fosters a longing for something that may have begun healthy but has long since curdled into obsession. As a new era emerges, Charli makes one thing clear: “brat” is over. In its place is an invitation to feel deeply, and dive headfirst into something more profound. By the final track, the listener is left stunned by the scale: a love so powerful it destroys everything in its path.