Pop rebel incites 'euphoric mayhem'

Sixth studio album from Charli XCX presents British singer at her most confrontational

- EMILIE HANSKAMP

On "Brat," Charli XCX isn't just taking you onto the club's dance floor; she's guiding you through the back doors and bathrooms and into the psyche between the fist bumps.

Don’t underestimate the depth of a party girl.

That’s a lesson you’ll learn on “Brat,” the sixth studio album from pop’s resident rebel, Charli XCX.

In the decade since first climbing the charts with the Icona Pop collaboration “I Love It,” the British artist has established a singular position in the popscape — one where genre-pushing experimentation and futurist production meld with diva grit and cultish appeal.

Charli’s last album, “Crash,” briefly deviated from that path. Her most explicit, albeit tongue-incheek, bid for commercial success, she put 10 toes down in the role of “major label pop star.” Using songs written by other artists, leaning into interpolations and working with A&R for the first time, the concept record offered catchy radio tunes and chart success but was largely void of the fringe factor she’s known for.

With “Brat,” Charli has clearly moved on and up.

An homage to her roots playing illegal warehouse raves was teased in the months leading up to the album drop. With neon face-tape and bold eyeliner winged to the heavens, she DJ’d a rowdy Boiler Room set in February to prime fans for a club-ready release.

In many ways, “Brat” slots itself into that party persona. The acid beat on career highlight “365” transports you onto the world’s sweatiest dance floor. “Club classics” is a heart rate-boosting foray into glitchy jersey club. The propulsive dance pop of “B2b” puppeteers your arms straight into the sky while the driving bass lines on “Everything is romantic” incite euphoric mayhem.