Over the past few years, English born singer Charli XCX has become a household name within the world of pop music, thanks in part due to her collaborations with Iggy Azalea and Icona Pop and also with the release of her first two full-length albums. I was never blown away with the music Charli has released in the past, and for the most part all she offered was a fairly strong voice in terms of the pop realm, and lyrics that at times did stick in your head. With that being said, on her latest EP Vroom Vroom she looks to take a very different approach to her songwriting, and brings along talented producer SOPHIE to provide her with the suitable instrumentals.
SOPHIE, who just last year released his debut solo full-length Product has proven himself to be very gifted artist when it comes to creating wonky, unorthodox, catchy pop tracks and he furthers that with his work here. While the lyrics are rather catchy and are sure to please even those who are partial to traditional post-2010 radio pop, the real heart of the album is the club style production that is cranked full of loud bass, angry synths, and at certain moments some rather abrasive and in your face noises.
The project kicks off with the title track Vroom Vroom, a fast paced synth driven cut that houses some very loud drum work. The progression on the song is rather impressive as it switches back and forth from feeling like a club ready dance song during the verses, to highlighting Charli's vocal ability in a very radio friendly fashion on the chorus. Lyrically it introduces you to the same topics that are discussed throughout the other three tracks as well as they're simple, straightforward braggadocios lines that catch your attention during the hook and work together quite well with the production.
The second track Paradise carries an even quicker pace and contains some clear techno influence throughout. Bubblegum pop artist Hannah Diamond also makes an appearance on the track, and even with the inclusion of the sped up vocals that typically have me cringing over how similar they sound to Alvin and the Chipmunks fail to prevent me from enjoying this song. Up next is Trophy, a song that contains some more booming drums and an interesting vocal sample but plays to Charli's vocal ability quite well yet again. It's another moment where we find SOPHIE showcasing his ability to make a simple pop beat so much more, as we see many different passages and verses and the incorporation of a plethora of different sounds, something you wouldn't typically expect to find in your average pop tune. The closer Secret (Shh) is perhaps the most contradicting track on the album as it opens with rather ugly, noisy synth based production but transitions into a chorus that in many ways reminds me of a more well put together version of Iggy Azalea's Black Widow.
The chemistry between the two artists who created this project is shown in abundance on each and every track, and while it may not appeal to those who haven't at least found some enjoyment in either artists previous work, it is sure to please those who are already fans, or those who are interested in a wonky, unique bubblegum bass pop project. While incredibly short and to the point, this definitely puts the duo on my radar, and I hope to see them teaming up many more times in the near future.
Rating: 3.5/5
Listen to the title track Vroom Vroom below:
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