Reviewer: Sophie Flint Vázquez
Released: 28th March 2025
Label: Public Consumption / Atlantic
Chloe Moriondo has never been one to remain static for long. In her previous works, she has explored a range of styles from whimsical, ukelele-infused pop (‘Rabbit Hearted’) to rebellious pop-punk (‘Blood Bunny’) and even grand, aggressive pop (‘SUCKERPUNCH’). With ‘oyster’, she takes another bold step — this time plunging into a glitchy, oceanic club realm, resulting in a breakup album that is both ambitious and beautifully crafted. In ‘oyster’, Chloe confronts heartbreak by immersing herself in aquatic imagery, reflecting on the changing tides of grief and self-discovery. Yet, despite its rawness, the album doesn’t come off as overly weighty; it skillfully balances chillingly honest lyrics with driving beats. Tracks such as ‘catch’, ‘raw’, and ‘abyss’ draw on hyperpop elements, transforming sorrow into something you can dance to. In the more subdued tracks, Chloe channels Charli XCX at her most reflective. For instance, in ‘shoreline’, she reveals, “And I’m no quitter / So I’ll love you ‘til I die,” delivered with auto-tuned vocals over thumping synths. Amid its unflinching honesty, the album still creates room for whimsy. The spine-tingling ‘hate it’, for example, embodies a crazy, dramatic energy as she imagines donning a stranger’s face and robbing a bank. After delving deep into her feelings and heartbreak, glimmers of hope begin to emerge. The instrumental arrangements in ‘weak’ shine with newfound brightness, while ‘sinking’ features her singing, “Moving forward isn’t as bad as it seems,” over dynamic club beats, marking the first steps towards recovery. It’s a fitting conclusion to an album that captures both the chaos and calm of heartbreak, further demonstrating that Chloe Moriondo is an artist who embraces change.
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