ATP! Album Review: Allie X - CollXtion I

Allie X is a bit of a mystery. To us, and to herself. However, the Canadian indie pop-tress has had us hooked on her enigma ever since Katy Perry-approved debut single “Catch” was launched unexpectedly via SoundCloud last year. Now, Allie X has returned with her first cumulative release, CollXtion I. While the artist says the compilation is neither an EP nor an LP, the seven tracks come together in a way that is far from ambiguous.

Opener “Hello” beckons a sweet, xylophone-tinged greeting that could not be a warmer welcome. While the candy-coated melody and lyrics of jubilant yearning are reminiscent of Carly Rae Jepsen’s formula, the unmistakable influence of Allie X’s musical theatre past shines through in the building layers of soaring harmonies in the bridge, akin to a grandiose opening number.

ATP! Essential Listening: Allie X

If you’re one of Katy Perry’s 67.7 Million Twitter followers, there’s a chance you may remember her sharing a “spring jam” on your timeline last year. In early March 2014, Perry sent out a tweet about her obsession with the song “Catch” by indie pop artist Allie X. Seeming to have appeared out of nowhere, the deliciously dark debut single gleamed with electro-pop finesse and an earworm hook depicting a dysfunctional relationship. It’s no surprise “Catch” earned rave reviews by the likes of Idolator and Time. This contagious first offering from Allie X left fans and critics alike eager for more, as the words “just wait until I catch my breath,” hung in the air, shivering with anticipation for what was to come.