Number 1 Angel
Charli XCX
2017
At a turning point of her career, Charli XCX abandons her mission of going straightforward pop that would guarantee radio play, and instead delves further into the avant sound she cultivated.
Trap-Pop&B/Hyperpop
BY HARPSICHORD
JANUARY 30, 2024
By the time Charli XCX released her third mix-tape, Number 1 Angel , her career was at a shifting point. Her debut studio album, 2013’s True Romance , brought her to the fore-front of the alt-pop scene as an ingenue to watch. By 2014, she had scored three top 10 hits in the United States, including the global No. 1 smash “Fancy” alongside rapper, Iggy Azalea, and her own solo tune, “Boom Clap.” 2012’s “I Love It” with Icona Pop became a main staple at festivals and in nightclubs that played raving EDM. The follow up to True Romance , 2014’s Sucker , found her leaning more power pop for the sake of mainstream appeal. Although Sucker did commercially better than True Romance , it lacked the edgy gusto. And from there, it became noticeable that Charli XCX may not have had the full solo power that people banked on.
Number 1 Angel acts as a reset of sorts. It’s the beginning of how she crossed over into the territory of being more unapologetically experimental, while balancing that with commercialism. It had some components that reminded her cult fans of her first EP, 2016’s Vroom Vroom . This mix-tape came as a reminder of the brilliance that existed from start to finish on True Romance . It didn’t shy away from her abrasiveness. And because of that– simply as a mix-tape– Number 1 Angel ended up on many year-end “best of” lists.
From the very beginning of the mix-tape, listeners are given the dreamy aspects of Charli XCX’s sound. It sounds as though a flying car is driving through a galaxy. “I’m a dreamer,” declares Charli XCX. From there we’re greeted by the trap energy of Starrah– who herself was gaining songwriting recognition for Kevin Gates’s “2 Phones,” Rihanna’s “Needed Me,” and Travis Scott’s “Pick Up The Phone.” Throughout “Dreamer”– which is enhanced by a chopped squeal from Charli XCX, all three artists (Starrah, RAYE, and XCX, herself) skate effortlessly through their verses. The sound of trap became the main center of 2017’s pop music, and “Dreamer” itself should be regarded as one of the most important artifacts of that time period. RAYE impresses with her “Bake, bake, bake, bake/I'm not a chef, but I'm gettin' cake,” bars alone.
The motif of beamers and rangers continues with the next song, “3 AM (Pull Up).” Instead of going full on trap- we’re given tropical house. Appearing alongside her is MØ, the Danish pop prodigy that also leaned on Iggy Azalea, and scored monumental success as the featured vocalist of Major Lazer’s “Lean On.” Also in a similar boat– or rather, ride– as Charli XCX, both artists chase after love that evades them. It’s the addictive nature of the “pull up, pull up, pull up” in the hook that becomes the strongpoint of the record.
“Blame It On U” cycles back around to the galaxy sound heard on “Dreamer.” Over that track, Charli XCX engages in accelerated rap-singing– particularly at “Openmylegswiththepressureandmakemefeelalright.” “Blame It On U” draws on the energy of prom queen cheerleader, the running gag of vocal choices on ‘Sucker.’ It’s as if she’s shouting the title through a megaphone, before the beat completely switches into a more raving feeling. It’s as if the flying car in space has been overloaded with ‘90s Eurodance present in a ‘Barbie’ flick.
Over the course of time, Number 1 Angel transforms into a record meant for glamazons. As PC Music became the trend, songs such as “Roll With Me” highlighted the work of hyperpop producers and DJs such as the late Sophie. Sophie’s work revolutionized the game of mid-to-late 2010’s pop for its abnormal choices, but pointed instincts. Her passing in 2021 was heavily felt by Charli XCX, who frequently started collaborating with Sophie. Sophie’s prominence in music also added exposure to LGBTQ artistry shaping the direction of pop at that time.
Much of Number 1 Angel celebrates queer identity, thrusting Charli XCX more into the role of a gay icon. On “3 AM (Pull Up),” MØ addresses her lover as “she;” there is the production work of Sophie who was openly trans; and cupcakKe– whose raunchy raps appeal to gay audiences– appearing on the final track, “Lipgloss.” “Babygirl” gives pin up meets workout infomercial energy of the early ‘80s, with its bubblegum nature.
Six years later, Charli XCX implements aspects of this mix-tape on:
The best portions of Number 1 Angel are the trap portions, because although Charli XCX has dabbled in the sound slightly throughout her discography up to that point, on this mix-tape she flushes it out. There are four tracks that cycle back into the noise that she utilized in the first track, “Dreamer” – a possible allusion to why the “1” exists in the mix-tape’s title. “White Roses” happens to be that third track, where she seduces the mic with her quiet storm talk. “White Roses” also recalls the vocals of Britney Spears circa Circus era. “Drugs” drowns in a menacing bravado, comparing “love of my life” to as the title suggests. The moments that pop out the most are the background ad-libs from Abra.
It’s always so bizarre when an artist labels their mix-tapes as such. Number 1 Angel is so well mastered and conceptually cohesive, that it should have been promoted as a studio album. There is a full universe that not only captures the progression of Charli XCX’s sound, but also gathers the troops who were making alt-pop intriguing during the time of its release. Number 1 Angel is a relic of sorts– a time capsule that will bring cult followers to a specific era where contemporary pop became wittingly unpredictable.
“Dreamer” for providing a soundscape that would be revisited throughout the album, and also for the incredible deliveries from RAYE and Starrah.
“White Roses” for recalling the heydays of Britney Spears when she would provide sensual, dreamy enthralling numbers.
“Drugs” for ABRA’s enhancements.
Key Tracks
Back when Number 1 Angel dropped it felt fresh. The mix-tape still does today, but it can also sound dated for that specific time period. As music has advanced, there have been better Charli XCX records that have held up much better. Nonetheless, Number 1 Angel will remain an important body of work not only for the artist, but also the scene at large.