Allie X, the stage name of Canadian goth-pop visionary Alexandra Hughes, is back with her fourth studio album. A decade on from her self-released collection of demos ‘CollXtion I,’ the new 12-track LP ‘Happiness Is Going To Get You’ showcases Hughes’ growth from alt-pop newcomer to prolific soundboard experimentalist. From the cheerful whistling and pumping baseline of ‘7th Floor’ to the clanging, horror-movie interlude ‘A Glitch In Marie,’ the album proves that cohesion does not have to limit creativity.
In the month leading up to its release, Hughes teased the album by dropping two singles: opener ‘Is Anybody Out There?,’ followed by ‘Reunite.’ The latter is the album’s clear ringleader; a distinctively chilling organ intro leads into bittersweet, melodic, and impossibly catchy synth-pop perfection. The track has a timeless vibe, with clear inspiration from the likes of Depeche Mode and Alison Moyet – but thanks to the unmistakable Allie X stamp, it retains a fresh, modern feel. ‘Reunite’ defies Hughes’ usual tendencies towards doom and darkness; instead, it’s a jovial celebration of growing from past mistakes.
‘I Hope You Hear This Song’ is a nursery rhyme with a vengeful twist. Gentle, glistening harp and angelic vocal riffs wrap up nail-biting lyrical threats in a pretty bow, creating a seriously skin-crawling composition.
Hughes’ vocals are layered to create a choral effect on ‘Uncle Lenny,’ which explores the dark side of familial relationships. Malicious gossip, betrayal, and financial abuse are just some of the issues tackled in this tale of toxicity. It transcends into a shrill outro of ghoulish wails, ending with the line “They’ll throw you out to the dogs” played backwards, adding a further layer of uneasiness.
‘It Gets Better (It’s Worse Than Ever)’ is a 45-second music-box ditty. The intentionally amateurish, muffled recording and janky ragtime piano creates an unsettling childlike innocence. Juxtaposed against the wisdom, depth and high production value elsewhere on the album, it’s a truly unsettling combination.
The penultimate track ‘Stay Green’ is an upbeat change in tone, both sonically and lyrically, that could have worked as a closing track – but it’s not in Hughes’ nature to end things on a sugary-sweet note. The actual closer, ‘It’s Just Light,’ maintains the optimism in its lyrics, but brings back Allie X’s characteristic gothic darkness with high-register vocals, haunted-house organ, and a monotone single-note piano outro.
The through-line of the album – as visualised by its cover, showing Hughes wistfully playing harp alone on a beach inside a glass box – is to escape existential isolation and push towards happiness. With its back-and-forth between light and dark, ‘Happiness Is Going To Get You’s endless twists and turns make it Allie X’s most exciting, thought-provoking work to date.