Review of 'Cape God', Allie X's second studio album

Cape God is a world of mystery and intrigue, that looks enticing at first glance, but has something dark laying underneath.

Cape God was inspired by a documentary, Heroin: Cape Cod USA (2015) about the opioid crisis on young people living in a perceived peaceful vacation destination. Alexandra Hughes, aka, Allie X, plays on words and changes ‘Cod’ to ‘God’, to bring her dreamed up, fictionalised shoreline town to life. ‘God’ also acts as a metaphor of how the addicts looked at the drugs as their salvation.

Hughes hides the true intentions of the pop/electronic album with the facade of upbeat and catchy songs. Once you take away the rhythmic beats and listen to just the lyrics, you can hear the sorrow within them. ‘Devil I know’, explores being in love with something bad for you, but addictive. “I could scream… but the wicked one is me”, this song is a clear internal battle, masked with a synth-pop beat.

Hughes is known for creating eccentric characters, so it was fitting for her second studio album to be another concept album. In 2018’s ‘Super Sunset’, she breaks down life in a self-centered LA, through different characters.

The two features on the album are Troye Sivan and Mitski. Both artists compliment Hughes' voices and help to bring the message of each song across. ‘Love me wrong’, is one of two ballads on the 12 song album. It is a haunting and psychedelic song that leaves listeners in a trance.

Cape God will stay with you, long after you finish listening.

Jadesola’s top three tracks: “Fresh Laundry’, ‘Life of the Party’, ‘Madame X’