Charli xcx embraces distorted guitars on post-Brat album
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Charli xcx’s new album, ‘Music, Fashion, Film’, marks a sharp stylistic move away from the pop and club-oriented sound of her ‘Brat’ era. Variety’s review portrays it as a concise, guitar-led post-‘Brat’ statement, reflecting the artist’s willingness to shift direction rapidly despite an already crowded run of projects in 2026.
The 11-track album lasts just under 30 minutes and is largely made with longtime collaborators A.G. Cook and Finn Keane. Its sound combines heavily distorted guitars, simple beats and glitchy electronic textures with cleaner, often untreated vocals; the review hears references to Blur, Wire and Dry Cleaning, and notes the absence of guest artists apart from an unsettling spoken monologue.
- Charli xcx swaps ‘Brat’ pop for distorted guitar-driven songs.
- The 11-track album runs for under 30 minutes.
- A.G. Cook and Finn Keane are key collaborators.
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Charli xcx is a British singer and songwriter known for pop music that often mixes catchy hooks with electronic production. She has worked closely with producers including A.G. Cook, who is associated with experimental pop, and Finn Keane, a producer and songwriter also known as Easyfun.
Her previous album, Brat, became a major cultural moment, with its electronic sound and dance-focused tracks influencing online discussion, fashion and live events. It also introduced many listeners to her recent style of glossy, synthetic pop music.
The new record marks a different musical approach, using guitars and a more stripped-back sound instead of the club-oriented production many people associate with Brat. Such changes are consistent with Charli xcx’s career, which has included both mainstream pop successes and frequent collaborations in more experimental music scenes.
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Originally published by Variety as “Charli xcx Cranks Up the Guitars and Launches Her Post-‘Brat’ Era With the Razor-Sharp ‘Music, Fashion, Film’: Album Review”.