CHARLIECITYY - In Another Life

​CHARLIECITYY

In Another Life
self-released; 2024

By Matt Jensen
​

CHARLIECITYY’s debut album, In Another Life, emerges as a bedroom pop opus that feels both intimate and far-reaching. Hailing from Birmingham, England, the rising artist teamed up with five producer collaborators to craft the album’s instrumentals while meticulously handling the vocals, mixing, and mastering himself. The result is a deeply personal and polished work that pulls from the emotional expanses of Frank Ocean and the experimental textures of MK.Gee. According to CHARLIECITYY, In Another Life is a raw examination of love, loss, and self-discovery—a confessionary record that invites listeners to untangle the complexities of relationships and personal growth. Themes of regret, denial, and acceptance ripple throughout the album, marking it as both vulnerable and ambitious.

The album opens with "flashback," a track built around delicate acoustic guitar picking, atmospheric layers, and a steady bass undercurrent. The ever-present use of Auto-Tune—employed throughout the record—casts a modern sheen over his yearning vocals. As the song intensifies, it becomes a poignant meditation on the ache of lost love, setting the emotional tone for what’s to come. It’s an evocative introduction, establishing CHARLIECITYY’s ability to weave deeply personal narratives into his music.

"Mirror" shifts gears with a mix of pop and pop-punk elements, striking a balance between buoyancy and emotional weight. The dynamics land well, with the low-end production providing a satisfying depth, grounding the song’s more playful moments. On "Heartstrings," CHARLIECITYY channels his inner Frank Ocean, yet the song's quirky, offbeat production feels akin to something pulled from FX’s Dave soundtrack—a testament to his ability to blur genre boundaries with ease. It’s a track that highlights his knack for finding beauty in unconventional arrangements.

The album’s darker side emerges on "Denial," a brooding and melancholy track that carries the weight of unresolved emotions. Meanwhile, "I Never Seem to Learn" stands out as a highlight, marrying a moody hip-hop beat with shimmering guitar lines that create an irresistible contrast. Tracks like "Requiem" delve into introspection, "Skin" expands with sprawling soundscapes and orchestral touches, and the title track, "in another life," impresses with its stripped-back minimalism. The closer, "goodbye," is a poignant farewell, bringing the album to a satisfying conclusion.

In Another Life feels tailor-made for a generation navigating the chaos of love in a digital age. CHARLIECITYY captures that universal turbulence of heartbreak and healing, crafting songs that resonate deeply with twenty-somethings who are still piecing together the puzzle of intimacy. Yet, for all its modernity, the album taps into timeless truths about love and longing that transcend its youthful target audience. This is a promising debut, with CHARLIECITYY proving himself an artist willing to bare his soul and push his craft forward. It’s an experience worth exploring.

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